African Trade, BRICs and AGOA: A Conversation with South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies

South Africa’s minister of trade and industry, Rob Davies, was recently in Washington to meet with officials in the Obama administration and members of Congress. At the top of his agenda was the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the administration’s commitment to a “seamless renewal” of the act, which set to expire in 2015, and what this might mean for South Africa.

Minister Davies stopped by Brookings and I had an opportunity to talk to him about AGOA and the European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). I also asked him about the relevance of the BRICS for economic development in Africa, and regional integration in Africa. 

Minister Davies discusses Africa’s infrastructure challenge and its impact on greater regional integration:

Minister Davies on the impact of the European Economic Partnership Agreements on Africa’s regional integration:

 Minister Davies talks about AGOA and how Africa can get more out of it: 

Minister Davies on the benefits of South Africa being a BRICS country and the potential for a BRICS-led development bank: