Trade, Not Aid

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI is concluding a working visit to the United States that has seen him meet President Bush and other senior administration officials.While taking in a trip to the United Nations in New York and accepting commendation for Uganda’s exemplary fight against HIV/AIDS, the main thrust of the visit has been to promote trade.Museveni has always emphasised that Africa will only be freed from poverty if given chance to access the big US market. This is a strong case for the development of Africa. Fortunately the United States’ Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the right step to economically empower Africa.For years now Africa has been a major recipient of western aid, which has not caused significant growth. Aid indeed does fill some of the budgetary gaps but it is not a permanent solution to Africa’s economic plight. Museveni has been a champion of ‘trade and not aid’. He has taken the crusade to various fora in the world. His thesis that the solution to Africa backwardness is trade and not aid should be taken seriously. The best the west can do for the poor continent is to open up investment and trade opportunities, which are stimuli for economic growth and development and eventually social transformation.Continued overprotection of markets in Europe, North America and Japan is unfair. It is exploitative and portends Africa’s continual dependency on aid. By accessing western markets Africa will earn incomes with demonstrable multiple effects.More households will have incomes and consequently a market for both Africa and the developed countries products will emerge. With new markets in Africa the west stands to gain but an aid-dependent Africa is a black hole for the western taxpayer. Africa now needs trade partners not donors.Ends