Leading apparel and footwear manufacturers from Lesotho, South Africa and Botswana are collaborating with the U.S. government to promote trade between the U.S. and South Africa. The businesses are set to exhibit at Sourcing at MAGIC in Las Vegas, Nevada from Feb. 16-19 with the backing of USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub.
The pavilion, named Sourcing Southern Africa, will feature seven established apparel manufacturers, all with expertise in denim, khaki, work wear, uniforms and knit garments.
“We are delighted that manufacturers from throughout Southern Africa are working with USAID to participate in Sourcing at MAGIC Las Vegas,” said Cheryl L. Anderson, USAID/Southern Africa Mission director. “This exhibition offers our partner companies a unique opportunity to showcase both their product lines and capacity to the U.S. market, and ultimately generate sales.”
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. government trade preference program, provides African producers the unique opportunity to export apparel, textiles and footwear to the U.S. with a potential 35 percent savings, though the trade program is up for renewal this year.
Magic marks the first of the two main tradeshows designed to showcase the manufacturing and factory capabilities from South Africa. Magic South Africa will run June 9-11 in Cape Town, South Africa, as the most important annual pan-African clothing, footwear and accessory trade event.