On October 29, 2001, President Bush announced the Trade for African Development and Enterprise (TRADE) initiative. TRADE encompassed six themes:

• Enhance the competitiveness of African products and services

• Expand the role that trade can play in African poverty reduction strategies

• Promote U.S.-African business linkages

• Improve the delivery of public services supporting trade

• Strengthen African capacity for trade policy formulation and implementation

• Strengthen the enabling environment for African businesses

The TRADE initiative was launched to assist African businesses take better advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), passed by Congress in May 2000. The Act establishes a framework of incentives to encourage greater economic growth and self-reliance through enhanced international trade and investment in Africa.

The East and Central Africa Global Competitiveness Hub (ECA AGCI Hub) in Nairobi, Kenya is one of three trade hubs established by USAID.

The Purpose of the Hub is to:

• Strengthen the capacity of East and Central African countries to participate more effectively in the multilateral trading system, including WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations;

• Develop and implement private sector business support strategies for increasing trade under AGOA;

• Facilitate the effective implementation of customs reform and trade facilitation initiatives to promote the creation of a more globally competitive ECA region with a specific focus on the COMESA Free Trade Area and the Northern Corridor;

• Improve the efficiency of regional transportation networks and develop mechanisms for reducing transportation costs related to trade in East and Central Africa; and Provide information to regional trade stakeholders as well as serve as an information -coordinator between the various trade, investment, and finance organizations active in the region.

There are four major components of the ECA Hub:

Trade Capacity Building
AGOA
Customs
Transport

Major Activities:

• Training (WTO, COMESA, Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary)

• Export Strategy Development

• Policy Research & Analysis

Major Activities:

• Enhance Knowledge of AGOA Opportunities (Training)

• Increase AGOA Business Linkages (Trade Missions, Matchmaking)

• Provide Firm-level Assistance

Major Activities:

• Enhance Customs Capabilities to Facilitate Trade (Harmonization of Procedures, Training, Implement new and simplified procedures to reduce costs)

• COMESA Customs Regional Bond Guarantee Scheme

• Increase Transparency and Accountability

Major Activities:

• Harmonization of Standards

• Design and Development of Regional Cargo Tracking System

• Policy Research & Analysis

• Develop Long-term Plan and a Build/Operate/ Transfer Policy to develop the Northern Corridor into an Economic Corridor.