Trade leads to industrialisation, foreign direct investment, foreign exchange earnings and job creation.
US exports to Botswana in 2004 totalled $51.6 million while US imports from Botswana totalled nearly $73 million, representing tremendous growth from the 2003 total of $13.6 million.
At least six firms in Botswana exported apparel to United States in 2004 and these firms according to Aroian, some of which represented new investment in response to AGOA, have been expanding output and increasing employment to meet demand.
Furthermore, Aroian laments that to fully capitalise on the AGOA legislation, Botswana needs to move beyond the headline industry apparel and look at nearly 65 000 items where AGOA countries have trade preferences.
She emphasised that value-added products, not commodities, should be the countrys main emphasis because AGOA provides an immediate tariff benefit not available to most other US trading partners.
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