USAID/West Africa’s Trade And Investment Hub Abou Fall AGOA/GVC Coordinator, Trade Hub AGOA/Trade Resource Centers – Detailed Activities Plan for FY16

ATRCs Workplan FY16 2 Objective/ActivitiesResults 1. Identification of Export-Ready Companies (ERCs) 1.1. Build a database of exporters by sector (liaise with Customs and other agencies) - Company visits 700 exporters (210 women) 2. Capacity Building for Export Ready Companies (ERCs) 2.1. Half-Day workshops on quality standards, packaging, costing and pricing, logistics and customs documentation, productivity, finance, trade show participation, etc exporters trained 2.2. AGOA Workshops 350 companies trained. Export guide developped 3. Business Linkages 3.1. Identify trade leads and share within the network and regional associations $2,000,000 facilitated 4. Trade Facilitation 4.1.Provide review of Commercial Invoices and export documentation of exporters to ensure compliance with AGOA, regional trade, etc. 140 exporters take advantage of AGOA 5. Institutional Framework to Develop Exports 5.1. Consultative meetings to set up an institutional mechanism and develop exports Set up of institutional mechanism and development of exports

Baseline 3 Objective/ActivitiesResults 1. Identification of Export-Ready Companies (ERCs) 1.1. Build a database of exporters by sector (liaise with Customs and other agencies) - Company visits 700 exporters (210 women)  Provides baseline that will allow ATRC Coordinators to provide targeted services to exporters to take advantage of AGOA.  Done in conjunction with Customs, freight forwarders, export promotion agencies.  Identify about 100 exporters (30 women), or a total of 700 exporters (210 women) for the seven targeted ATRCs.

Capacity Building for Export 4 Objective/ActivitiesResults 2. Capacity Building for Export Ready Companies (ERCs) 2.1. Half-Day workshops on quality standards, packaging, costing and pricing, logistics and customs documentation, productivity, finance, trade show participation, etc exporters trained 2.2. AGOA Workshops 350 companies trained. Export guide developed  The ATRCs will provide targeted training to selected exporters.  Small groups of about 10 companies on specific themes such as packaging, access to finance, labeling, etc. to enable exporters to understand the export requirements.  AGOA workshops to sensitize companies on AGOA benefits.

Business Linkages 5 Objective/ActivitiesResults 3. Business Linkages 3.1. Identify trade leads and share within the network and regional associations $2,000,000 facilitated  Share trade lead information in order to facilitate trade between W.A. exporters. THN to think about building a trade lead platform

Customs Documentation Facilitation 6 Objective/ActivitiesResults 4. Trade Facilitation 4.1.Provide review of Commercial Invoices and export documentation of exporters to ensure compliance with AGOA, regional trade, etc. 140 exporters take advantage of AGOA  Provide export documentation services to exporters by reviewing Commercial Invoices.  Ensuring that the relevant information is put on CI to help exporters take advantage of AGOA and GSP preferential treatment.

Institutional framework for dialogue on exports 7 Objective/ActivitiesResults 5. Institutional Framework to Develop Exports 5.1. Consultative meetings to set up an institutional mechanism and develop exports Set up of institutional mechanism and development of exports  Convene monthly meetings that include export promotion agencies, customs, and stakeholders involved in exports  Discuss impediments to trade and solutions to increase trade.  Meetings will provide an institutional framework to develop exports.

8 Thank you for your attention Abou Fall, ATRC Coordinator