Annual Report Fiscal Year 2021: USAID Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub

The USAID TradeHub supports these objectives by increasing exports from Southern African countries to South Africa and the United States, boosting capital and technology flows from South Africa to other Southern African countries, and providing targeted trade facilitation support to Zambia. The USAID TradeHub works with market actors to identify and resolve enterprise constraints and implements sustainable solutions through market-based trade and investment facilitation services. The USAID TradeHub partners with the USAID Bilateral Missions through the USAID Southern Africa Regional Mission in the successful delivery of its objectives. The USAID TradeHub narrowed its activities in year four, in partnership with USAID, to achieve the following three objectives: increased exports to South Africa from targeted Southern African countries, increased investment of capital and technology out of South Africa to targeted Southern African countries, and sustainable utilization of AGOA opportunities by targeted Southern African countries. In addition, the USAID TradeHub is working to improve Zambia's trade-enabling environment as part of a buy-in from the USAID Mission in Zambia. The USAID TradeHub delivered $37.9 million in exports against a target of $40 million in FY 2020. The hub also facilitated $14.4 million in investment out of South Africa to targeted Southern African countries. In terms of AGOA utilization, the USAID TradeHub supported the export of $23.4 million in goods to the United States, exceeding the target of $20 million. The USAID TradeHub works with various stakeholders, including governments, private sector companies, and civil society organizations, to achieve its objectives. The hub has established partnerships with key organizations, such as the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association, the Lesotho Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Zambia Association of Manufacturers. The USAID TradeHub has made significant progress in improving the trade-enabling environment in Zambia, including the establishment of a trade information portal and the development of a trade facilitation strategy. The hub has also provided training and capacity-building programs for Zambian trade officials and private sector companies. In FY 2021, the USAID TradeHub delivered $43.8 million in exports against a target of $45 million. The hub also facilitated $17.1 million in investment out of South Africa to targeted Southern African countries. In terms of AGOA utilization, the USAID TradeHub supported the export of $28.5 million in goods to the United States, exceeding the target of $25 million. The USAID TradeHub continues to work with its partners to achieve its objectives and improve the trade-enabling environment in the region. The hub's activities are focused on increasing exports, investment, and AGOA utilization, as well as improving the trade facilitation environment in Zambia.