President William Ruto has assured representatives of Kenya’s apparel sector that the Government is working closely with the United States to secure the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) following its expiry.
Speaking when he held a consultative meeting with them to discuss the future of the industry at State House, Nairobi, the Head Of State briefed the stakeholders on his recent discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, where they explored not only the extension of AGOA but also the establishment of a long-term framework to guarantee stable and predictable market access for Kenyan products.
President Ruto said this will go a long way in strengthening Kenya’s apparel industry, which remains vital to the economy and the livelihoods of thousands of families.
He said in 2024, for example, Kenya led Sub-Saharan Africa in apparel exports to the United States, earning 600 million dollars and creating 70,000 direct jobs for Kenyans.
In the meantime, the head of state said that operations in the industry will continue without disruption as talks with the U.S. Government proceed with the urgency they deserve.
AGOA is a piece of legislation that was approved by the US Congress in May 2000 to assist the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and to improve economic relations between the United States and the region.
AGOA has been a cornerstone of Kenya’s export-led manufacturing strategy, allowing duty-free access for a wide range of goods into the US market.
