In Ghana, the Trade Hub encourages private-sector growth in strategic export-oriented sectors, including agriculture and agricultural processing, services to enable greater exports, garment and apparel production, and light manufacturing. The Trade Hub also supports industries that improve the enabling environment for private sector growth such as affordable energy services, including renewable energy, and logistics to stimulate trade and exports. 

Potential co-investments in Ghana may also (1) focus on high-priority value chains such as maize, shea, soy, cowpea, groundnut, fish, and high-value export commodities (including horticulture); (2) focus on the 17 USAID/Ghana Global Food Security Strategy Zone of Influence districts in the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions; and (3) focus on activities that support women and youth-owned businesses, income generation for women and youth, job creation, and/or capacity building.

As one of the major economic centers in Francophone West Africa, the Trade Hub is partnering with the private sector in Senegal in a range of sectors, including agriculture, water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH), and energy to help stimulate economic growth.

Burkina Faso and Niger have a high potential to reinforce existing value chains and increase exports for both raw materials and processed goods. The Trade Hub is working in line with USAID’s objectives and Prosper Africa Initiative to promote resilience in the Sahel region, with a focus on opportunities in agriculture, energy, textiles, and other sectors that will contribute to job creation.

In Côte d’Ivoire, the Trade Hub is partnering with dynamic and established companies to increase their value of regional and international exports. Many companies are presently exporting in different sectors like cocoa, cashew, and rubber. There are also other business networks that have the potential to expand and export more, such as apparel.

The Trade Hub is targeting co-investment partnerships in Cabo Verde to mitigate the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. These partnerships support Cabo Verde businesses working in labor-intensive, women, and youth-dominated sectors severely affected by the pandemic. More specifically, the Trade Hub works with financial institutions to expand the availability of working capital for SMEs and obtain new financing lines to support their operations. The Trade Hub also supports companies to not only retain current employment levels, but also create new jobs in an effort to stimulate economic growth.

Companies working in greatly affected business networks, such as tourism, IT, financial institutions, agriculture, textiles, and other exportable goods, are strongly encouraged to apply for co-investment funding. Businesses are expected to provide at least a 1:1 matching contribution of new private investment to be eligible for co-investment. The Trade Hub can also provide technical assistance to help businesses export to the United States duty-free under AGOA.

In Liberia, the Trade Hub is targeting initiatives that promote biodiversity, environmental resilience, and natural resource management. Companies working in ecotourism, conservation, or sustainable agroforestry are strongly encouraged to apply for co-investment partnerships. The Trade Hub is also interested in partnering with the private sector in other agricultural sectors, such as rice, palm oil, rubber, and cocoa, especially if these proposed activities include exports to the United States under AGOA.

In addition to its focus countries, the Trade Hub welcomes co-investment partnerships that are regional or multi-country in nature, focused in countries without a dedicated country program that falls within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and/or focused in Mauritania, Cameroon, and Chad. West Africa concepts should advance businesses with the potential to generate high levels of private investment, create jobs, and increase the value of exports.

The Trade Hub welcomes concepts from U.S. companies and investors with activities that significantly expand trade and investment flows between the United States and the West Africa region to promote the Prosper Africa initiative. Our team also provides expert advice to companies seeking to better understand the opportunities provided for West African exporters under AGOA.