Mohale FM Following the Minister of Trade and Industry’s trip to the United States last week, Lesotho has recorded significant progress towards the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), after the bill was successfully passed by the U.S. Congress with 339 votes in favour and 54 against.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mokhethi Shelile, said the passage of the bill in Congress marks an important milestone, adding that the next step is for the legislation to be tabled before the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Minister Shelile revealed that Lesotho has taken a leading role in the formation of a bloc of five African countries, known as the “T-Five” (Textile Five), established specifically to advocate for the renewal of the AGOA agreement. The group comprises Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Kenya, and is led by Lesotho.
He said that during his visit to the United States last week, he held more than 30 meetings with various officials as part of lobbying efforts ahead of the Senate vote. Should the bill pass in the Senate, it will then be forwarded to the President of the United States for signature, formally renewing AGOA for a further three-year period.
Clip…Shelile elaborates..
The Minister indicated that the bill is expected to be tabled in the Senate later this month.
