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COMMERCIAL SECTION
The Commercial Section at the U.S. Embassy
in Praia offers a number of services to American and Cape Verdean businesses to
promote trade between the U.S. and Cape Verde. The Embassy can facilitate
contact between companies of the two countries either for commercial ventures or
investment projects.
The primary mission of the Commercial Section is to
support U.S. commercial interests and help companies increase sales and market
share in Cape Verde. Its commitment is to:
·
Promote the
export of U.S. goods and services
·
Protect and
advocate for U.S. business interests in Cape Verde
·
Assist U.S.
firms in realizing their export potential by providing counseling and
advice, information of the Cape Verdean market, contacts and trade
promotion vehicles
·
Support the
export promotion efforts of other public and private organizations,
creating, through partnership, a full service export development
infrastructure
·
Support the
export promotion efforts of other public and private organizations,
creating, through partnership, a full service export development
infrastructure
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
In May 2000, the Trade and Development Act of 2000
containing the AGOA was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law. The
AGOA establishes a new framework for U.S. trade, investment and development
policy for sub-Saharan Africa. Cape Verde is one of the beneficiary countries of
AGOA.
The Act offers Cape Verde duty-free and quota-free U.S.
market access for essentially all products through the Generalized System of
Preferences. Cape Verde's first exports under the AGOA program were made in
December, 2002 by a textile company in the city of Mindelo, Sao Vicente
Island.
On February 10, 2003 an AGOA Information
Center was opened in Cape Verde at the Center for Tourism, Investment and
Export, PROMEX
For more information on the opportunities provided by the
AGOA visit www.agoa.gov.
Cooperation on Air Transportation
The United States and Cape Verde have
established a strong record in cooperation in the air transport
sector. The two countries signed an Open Skies Air Transport Agreement
on January 14, 2003; the agreement went into effect on signature, and will
offer both sides an opportunity to increase air services, including cargo
transport, between our two countries.
In December 2002, the United States provided Cape Verde with a $1 million
donation of airport security equipment for Sal and Praia airports. The
equipment has been installed in Sal, providing added security to passengers
and Cargo moving through this active international airport.
The United States and Cape Verde have also
cooperated actively in Cape Verde's efforts to achieve Category I status
under the Federal Aviation Administration. Cape Verde hopes
to achieve Category I status in early 2003.
For more details on the US Sate Skies
initiative, click on http://www.intl.faa.gov
Commercial Services
These as some of the services provided by the Commercial
Section:
Agent/Distributor
Service (ADS)
Helps identify for the U.S. firms, the prospective
agents/distributors in Cape Verde. Reports the willingness of qualified Cape
Verdean firma to represent U.S. products or services and offers some background
on these firms.
Trade
Opportunity Program (TOP)
The objective of the Trade and Opportunity Program is to
help local firms identify American suppliers whose products and services are
needed here. The Embassy forwards information on local needs electronically to
the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, which automatically identifies
appropriate American suppliers by computer. The same service is used to search
potential American partners for investment projects.
Catalog
Reference Service
Company/product catalogs are placed in an accessible area
in the commercial library at the Commercial Section, where visitors are
encouraged to peruse them. Legal firms, banks, management consultants, etc. are
also encouraged to place material in the library under this program. This
service exposes company/product information to the visitors to the Commercial
Section at the Embassy.
International
Buyer Program (IBP)
The International Buyer Program brings buying delegations
from around the world to trade shows in the U.S.. International business centers
at these shows are staffed with expert trade professionals and interpreters to
help American firms establish international contacts. The Embassy conducts
intensive promotion campaigns for IBP shows of interest to the Cape Verdean
business community.
Commercial Library
The commercial library has a variety of commercial
documentation including directories of American manufacturers and exporters,
U.S. Government-published catalog-magazines that promote American products and
services and company/product catalogs.
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