VEGA-Ethiopia’s program is an export promotion program under the broader trade initiative - AGOA, which was signed into law on May 18, 2000. This program aims to develop and promote Ethiopia’s export market to the United States and other international markets. The program will accomplish this objective through three primary project activities:

·         Strengthen business organizations and Industry Associations to provide services to their members to be enable to take better advantage of AGOA trade opportunities

·         Provide firm level assistance to companies with potential to take advantages of AGOA trade opportunities

·         Arrange trade missions, reverse trade missions and/or individualized tours and/or private sector invitational travel to the U.S. to participate in key trade shows.

The specific purpose of the program is to promote economic development through export trade between Ethiopia, the United States and other international markets.  The VEGA/AGOA+ program will accomplish results under USAID’s Strategic Objective 6 “Market-Led Economic Growth and Resiliency Increased” By increasing trade linkages between Ethiopian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and buyers in the United States and other countries.