Written by<Zeze Ballah>

The Liberia Chamber of Commerce and the Ezzat N. Eid Foundation have organized a contest to attract products made in Liberia.

On Monday, August 27 entrepreneurs will be invited to pitch their products at a pitching contest and fundraising event in Monrovia. Friday, August 24 is the deadline for entrepreneurs to apply to get their local products selected.

Winning entrepreneurs will get the opportunity to showcase their Liberia-made products at the African Growth and Opportunity Act Expo and Trade Fair scheduled for September 25-30 in New York.

The organizers note that between 10 to 15 companies will win an opportunity to attend the AGOA Expo and Trade Fair in the U.S.

AGOA is a law passed in the U.S. to increase trade between the U.S. and participating African countries. The law provides duty-free preferences for thousands of products manufactured and processed throughout the region. It was initially signed into law in 2000 for 15 years and then it was later extended in 2015 for 10 additional years.

The festival is a cultural and business platform to celebrate U.S.-Africa cooperation, strengthen bilateral trade relations, and promote the AGOA key export products and investment opportunities. Goods such as apparel, textiles, footwear, beverages and food, skin and leather products prepared in Africa, cosmetics and essential oils, jewelry, and African music are usually on display at the festival.

The festival is also a unique platform for American companies to expand their businesses or introduce new products and services in the 40 African countries eligible with direct access to authorities and business leaders.

A wide variety of activities are organized periodically by AGOA in several cities in the U.S. aimed at boosting African exports and take advantage of the organization’s legislation with new partnerships and joint ventures.

Featured photo by Lloyd Massah