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Polish-African trade boosted by 'GoAfrica' drive

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 02.02.2015 12:11
Over the last two years trade between Poland and Africa has risen by 25 percent, a success which has been partly attributed to the government’s ‘GoAfrica’ initiative.

GoAfrica’ was founded to help diversify Polish trade away from traditional markets, with the aim of increasing Africa’s share of Polish trade from 1 percent to 3 percent.

Overall Polish trade with African countries rose by 25 percent during 2012-2014 to reach a current level of USD 4.5 billion per annum (EUR 4 billion).

The largest gains were with Algeria and Nigeria, which saw bilateral trade increase by 91 percent and 47 percent respectively during the period.

Since its creation the initiative has organised 38 promotional events including five trade missions with African countries and two trade fairs, in which a total of 3,300 people have taken part.

''We have the first results of the work of the GoAfrica program,'' commented Sławomir Majman, head of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency which manages the initiative.

''If we take into account the countries to which we have sent missions … in these countries we have seen a very satisfactory growth in trade.

Of course we know that we started at a low level [of trade[ but in many cases the growth rates are quite impressive.”

Meanwhile, Katarzyna Kacperczyk, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, has noted that the programme continuues to broaden.

We are planning to organize training with the World Bank concerning the public procurement system in Africa. This is a good way in which to enter the more difficult markets.”

In 2015 the ‘GoAfrica’ program is planning missions to Mozambique, Congo, Ethiopia, Angola, Tanzania and South Africa. (sl/nh)

Source: Rzeczpospolita, Gazeta Wyborcza

tags: Africa, Go Africa
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