press releases

Seminar Highlights U.S. Programs That Support Trade And Investment In Zambia

Lusaka
August 21, 2006

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Andrew Passen (right back row) with presenters and organizers of the Doing Business With the U.S. Seminar. Next to him is Dr. Scott Simons, Chief of Party, Market Access Trade Enabling Policies (MATEP) - Lusaka, Douglas Shuster, Manager for Business Development, Sub-Saharan Africa, United States Trade and Development Agency, Johannesburg, Vedruna Santana, U.S. Embassy Commercial Assistant and Pamela Ward, Deputy Director, Foreign Commercial Service, Johannesburg. Front left is Jill Derderian, Acting U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission and Amanda Hilligas, AGOA Advisor, Southern Africa Global Competitiveness Hub, Gaborone.

Representatives from several United States government agencies on Monday, August 21, provided information and guidance to Zambian private sector and government officials about a variety of programs and activities designed to support trade--both imports into Zambia and exports from Zambia--and U.S. investment in Zambia. At a seminar held at the American Center in Lusaka, presenters acquainted more than 50 participants with many different programs and tools that support trade, including financing for U.S. imports and capacity- building for Zambian exports.

The U.S. government agencies and programs featured in the seminar included the Commerce Department's U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, or FCS; the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA); the Export-Import Bank of the United States; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC); and USAID-supported activities -- the Gaborone-based Southern Africa Competitiveness Hub, and the Zambia-based "Market Access, Trade and Enabling Policies" project (MATEP).

Trade and investment can help to promote sustained economic growth, and generate improved standards of living and prosperity in Zambia. Contributing to Zambia's economic development is one of the top priorities of the U.S. mission in Zambia.

Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Director of Industry, Mr. Siazongo Siakalenge provided opening remarks at the seminar. In closing remarks, U.S. Embassy Chargé d' Affaires Andrew Passen encouraged the participating Zambian business and government officials to make use of the trade and investment programs that were explained at the seminar, and to take advantage of the assistance available from the Embassy's Commercial Specialist and the resources available at the American Center Library.

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