AU Ambassador Welcomes US House Passage Of AGOA Extension Bill

Prince Estifanos Matewos, the African Union (AU) Ambassador to  Member States, has commended the United States House of Representatives for passing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act, HR 6500.

In a statement issued on Friday, Prince Matewos described the decisive bipartisan vote as a strong affirmation of the US Congress’s commitment to renewing and strengthening AGOA, as well as deepening economic engagement between the United States and Africa.

He noted that AGOA represents a meaningful partnership between Africa and the United States, measured not only by trade volumes but also by its tangible impact on livelihoods, dignity, and opportunity. According to him, the Act has contributed significantly to industrialisation, job creation, and the development of regional value chains across participating African countries.

Matewos further stated that AGOA has delivered mutual benefits, promoting inclusive growth and economic stability in African nations while supporting American businesses, consumers, and long-term shared prosperity.

As the legislation advances to the next stage of the U.S. legislative process, the AU Ambassador affirmed his full support for a diplomatic appeal to ensure the timely and successful completion of the extension.

He expressed confidence that the renewed framework would foster a deeper, more diversified trade relationship, expand both energy and non-energy trade, strengthen entrepreneurship, and extend benefits beyond individual AGOA countries to entire regions and economies.

He also commended the resolve of participating entities to uphold high standards and pursue ambitious economic and social progress through national responsibility, self-driven development, and enterprise.

Matewos emphasised that the greatest promise of the partnership lies in the entrepreneurial spirit of African and American citizens working together with equal dignity and mutual respect, enabling more people to share in the benefits of economic growth.

In his capacity as special envoy to several African countries and as the African Union’s Ambassador, he has been directly involved in AGOA-related trade and investment discussions, representing the collective interests of multiple African states.

He noted that such engagements have consistently emphasised market access, value-addition, and fair partnerships, reinforcing the importance of frameworks like AGOA in advancing Africa’s shared development and integration into the global economy.