This afternoon the President held a town hall with 115 young leaders from more than 40 countries across Africa — it was the kind of White House event under this President that surprises you, catching you off guard with its honesty. For those interested in Africa and its development, or for that matter this President’s engagement with not just heads of state, but with people all over the world, the video is well worth watching. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x1.swf
This afternoon the President held a town hall with 115 young leaders from more than 40 countries across Africa — it was the kind of White House event under this President that surprises you, catching you off guard with its honesty. For those interested in Africa and its development, or for that matter this President’s engagement with not just heads of state, but with people all over the world, the video is well worth watching. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x1.swf
This afternoon the President held a town hall with 115 young leaders from more than 40 countries across Africa — it was the kind of White House event under this President that surprises you, catching you off guard with its honesty. For those interested in Africa and its development, or for that matter this President’s engagement with not just heads of state, but with people all over the world, the video is well worth watching.
This afternoon the President held a town hall with 115 young leaders from more than 40 countries across Africa — it was the kind of White House event under this President that surprises you, catching you off guard with its honesty. For those interested in Africa and its development, or for that matter this President’s engagement with not just heads of state, but with people all over the world, the video is well worth watching.
By Paul Ndiho August 3, 2010 The annual Africa Growth Opportunity Act forum officially opened in Washington, D.C., this week bringing together more than 600 participants, including senior U.S. and African government officials, as well as members of the private sector and civil society. Washington grants duty-free status to more than 6-thousand product lines from sub-Saharan Africa under the U-S- African Growth and Opportunity Act of 2000, or AGOA. This year, the Agoa forum is focusing on the ties between private investment and growth and ways in which African countries can take advantage of trade. U.S. Trade representative Ron Kirk says that Africa’s exports to the U.S have more than doubled. “Agoa has met our expectations in terms of transforming our relationship with Africa from one that had been traditionally just based on the aid, to one that began to build on commercial and economic ties to the mutual benefit of all the 38 Sub-Saharan countries.”
Agoa provides trade preferences to countries that are making economic and political reforms. Agoa reduces barriers to trade, creating jobs. But U.S. exports to Sub-Saharan Africa go primarily to a few countries, and Kenya’s Minister of Trade Amos Kimunya says a lot more needs to be done to realize agoa’s full potential. “We have 6400 products eligible for export to the U.S under agoa. But sadly, a very limited number is coming through… different countries have various reasons why they are not exporting to the U.S. The bulk of the trade is 90% oil and energy products and 10% constitutes of the other products. We feel that we need to do more.” In early years, some countries were able to increase substantially textile exports to the United States under agoa. However, African manufacturers have found it increasingly difficult to compete against Indian and Chinese textiles. African women entrepreneurs are being showcased at this year’s agoa forum in Washington. Susan Muhwezi, is special advisor to the President of Uganda. “When Agoa first started we trained over 200 women in the apparel sector. We’ve had women in the arts and crafts section, we have created a lot of jobs for the youth especially women and continue to reach out to women.” There are 38 Sub-Saharan African countries taking advantage of agoa’s trade benefits. Oil accounts for most of what the U.S. buys from Africa, but the Zambian trade minister, Felix Mutati notes that agoa has resulted in some significant strides in the agricultural sector. “We have significant challenges in the agricultural sector in terms of entry associated with standards and pest control and we are working with the U.S trade office to address those concerns so that we can take advantage of the opportunities that have been given to us.” Analysts say the U.S. trade with Sub-Saharan Africa decreased 40 percent in 2009 because of the economic downturn. The U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act is due to expire in 2015, and some African countries would like that deadline extended.
By Paul Ndiho August 3, 2010 The annual Africa Growth Opportunity Act forum officially opened in Washington, D.C., this week bringing together more than 600 participants, including senior U.S. and African government officials, as well as members of the private sector and civil society. Washington grants duty-free status to more than 6-thousand product lines from sub-Saharan Africa under the U-S- African Growth and Opportunity Act of 2000, or AGOA. This year, the Agoa forum is focusing on the ties between private investment and growth and ways in which African countries can take advantage of trade. U.S. Trade representative Ron Kirk says that Africa’s exports to the U.S have more than doubled. “Agoa has met our expectations in terms of transforming our relationship with Africa from one that had been traditionally just based on the aid, to one that began to build on commercial and economic ties to the mutual benefit of all the 38 Sub-Saharan countries.”
Agoa provides trade preferences to countries that are making economic and political reforms. Agoa reduces barriers to trade, creating jobs. But U.S. exports to Sub-Saharan Africa go primarily to a few countries, and Kenya’s Minister of Trade Amos Kimunya says a lot more needs to be done to realize agoa’s full potential. “We have 6400 products eligible for export to the U.S under agoa. But sadly, a very limited number is coming through… different countries have various reasons why they are not exporting to the U.S. The bulk of the trade is 90% oil and energy products and 10% constitutes of the other products. We feel that we need to do more.” In early years, some countries were able to increase substantially textile exports to the United States under agoa. However, African manufacturers have found it increasingly difficult to compete against Indian and Chinese textiles. African women entrepreneurs are being showcased at this year’s agoa forum in Washington. Susan Muhwezi, is special advisor to the President of Uganda. “When Agoa first started we trained over 200 women in the apparel sector. We’ve had women in the arts and crafts section, we have created a lot of jobs for the youth especially women and continue to reach out to women.” There are 38 Sub-Saharan African countries taking advantage of agoa’s trade benefits. Oil accounts for most of what the U.S. buys from Africa, but the Zambian trade minister, Felix Mutati notes that agoa has resulted in some significant strides in the agricultural sector. “We have significant challenges in the agricultural sector in terms of entry associated with standards and pest control and we are working with the U.S trade office to address those concerns so that we can take advantage of the opportunities that have been given to us.” Analysts say the U.S. trade with Sub-Saharan Africa decreased 40 percent in 2009 because of the economic downturn. The U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act is due to expire in 2015, and some African countries would like that deadline extended.
By Paul Ndiho July 22, 2010 Ethiopian Airlines began its first flight to Cairo in 1946. Almost 65 years later, the airline is still going strong. Foreign pilots are flocking to the carrier, which remains one of the most profitable African airline in a troubled industry. Ethiopian Airlines is experiencing steady growth, despite the downturn in the global airline industry, flying to 26 African destinations and the United States. Kagnew Asfaw, with Ethiopian Airlines, attributes the government-owned carrier’s success to its investment in its employees. “From our point of view what differentiate one airline from another airline can only be its people because we buy the same aircraft, we fly the same routes. The only thing that differentiates us from others is the skill of our people.
Nearly 50 of Ethiopian Airlines’ pilots are foreigners, and it is recruiting pilots from the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. “The reason why we hiring foreign pilots right now is that our pilots, the ones which we train ourselves, are so skilled they are in demand with airlines of the region, and airlines from the Middle East, from Asia. They take our pilots. So, and we are growing so fast, almost 25% every year.” David Wooten, a former U.S. Navy pilot from the U.S. State of Florida, joined Ethiopian Airlines in late 2009. “I just turned 60, so I’m at the age that I’m really not a marketable commodity for many airlines, they’re looking for younger pilots, and certainly I don’t fit that mold. But Ethiopian recognizes experience that comes with age and they were willing to take me on as a Line Captain and I’m very grateful for that.” Shrinking job opportunities in the west, forced the British-born pilot Toby Crew to look elsewhere for work. Now based in Addis Ababa, the 40-year-old says he was surprised when he heard about the job opportunities at Ethiopian Airlines. “I’d been working for an airline flying the MD-11 before that went out of business in the States and with the economic downturn there were very few opportunities back home. Here in Ethiopia you’ve got a growing, profitable airline, that was acquiring MD-11 freighters and needed current qualified crew so it was a very good opportunity and here I am.” Ethiopian Airline’s net profit more than doubled in 2009, but the company is not without problems. The airline review website Skytrax, gives Ethiopian Airlines only a 3-out-of-5 star overall ranking, and says that many of the carrier’s customers are unhappy with the airline’s customer service, baggage handling, and unexplained airport delays.
By Paul Ndiho July 22, 2010 Ethiopian Airlines began its first flight to Cairo in 1946. Almost 65 years later, the airline is still going strong. Foreign pilots are flocking to the carrier, which remains one of the most profitable African airline in a troubled industry. Ethiopian Airlines is experiencing steady growth, despite the downturn in the global airline industry, flying to 26 African destinations and the United States. Kagnew Asfaw, with Ethiopian Airlines, attributes the government-owned carrier’s success to its investment in its employees. “From our point of view what differentiate one airline from another airline can only be its people because we buy the same aircraft, we fly the same routes. The only thing that differentiates us from others is the skill of our people.
Nearly 50 of Ethiopian Airlines’ pilots are foreigners, and it is recruiting pilots from the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. “The reason why we hiring foreign pilots right now is that our pilots, the ones which we train ourselves, are so skilled they are in demand with airlines of the region, and airlines from the Middle East, from Asia. They take our pilots. So, and we are growing so fast, almost 25% every year.” David Wooten, a former U.S. Navy pilot from the U.S. State of Florida, joined Ethiopian Airlines in late 2009. “I just turned 60, so I’m at the age that I’m really not a marketable commodity for many airlines, they’re looking for younger pilots, and certainly I don’t fit that mold. But Ethiopian recognizes experience that comes with age and they were willing to take me on as a Line Captain and I’m very grateful for that.” Shrinking job opportunities in the west, forced the British-born pilot Toby Crew to look elsewhere for work. Now based in Addis Ababa, the 40-year-old says he was surprised when he heard about the job opportunities at Ethiopian Airlines. “I’d been working for an airline flying the MD-11 before that went out of business in the States and with the economic downturn there were very few opportunities back home. Here in Ethiopia you’ve got a growing, profitable airline, that was acquiring MD-11 freighters and needed current qualified crew so it was a very good opportunity and here I am.” Ethiopian Airline’s net profit more than doubled in 2009, but the company is not without problems. The airline review website Skytrax, gives Ethiopian Airlines only a 3-out-of-5 star overall ranking, and says that many of the carrier’s customers are unhappy with the airline’s customer service, baggage handling, and unexplained airport delays.
The International criminal court in the Hague ordered the accused in its first case – Thomas Lubanga from Democratic Republic of Congo – to be freed. The judges say that his detention is no longer fair. They are giving the prosecution five days to appeal, after which Lubanga could be set free. Lubanga has pleaded not guilty to charges he used child soldiers during the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo a decade ago. VOA’s Paul Ndiho, who was a reporter in the DRC when Lubanga was a rebel leader, discusses Lubanga with Ndimyake Mwakalyelye.
The International criminal court in the Hague ordered the accused in its first case – Thomas Lubanga from Democratic Republic of Congo – to be freed. The judges say that his detention is no longer fair. They are giving the prosecution five days to appeal, after which Lubanga could be set free. Lubanga has pleaded not guilty to charges he used child soldiers during the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo a decade ago. VOA’s Paul Ndiho, who was a reporter in the DRC when Lubanga was a rebel leader, discusses Lubanga with Ndimyake Mwakalyelye.
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