ADDIS ABEBA(July 21,2008) -Africa must continue to pursue its interests in the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations to secure markets for African products in the United States, a senior African Union official said on Friday.

AUC deputy chairperson Dr. Erastus Mwencha said the negotiations were necessary to address Africa's challenges in the area of trade.

Dr. Mwencha was speaking with the press on Friday at AU Head quarters on Friday to brief the press on the seventh African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, held from 14 - 16 July 2008, in Washington, D.C., United States of America.

"The event sets the stage for discussions focusing on the linkages between private investments and economic growth, as well as providing African countries with the ability to take advantage of trade," Mwecha said on the press briefing.

He added that the meeting brought together the senior US administration officials, African government ministers, as well as US and African business and civil society stakeholders to accelerate the exchange of ideas and information critical to AGOA's continued success.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairperson explained that the US Congress was contemplating to put up another Bill known as New Partnership for Development Act (NPDA), saying, the new Bill has a number of conditionality that needs to be considered by the African Ministers before it is fully implemented.

There were ministerial plenary sessions which focused on critical areas that affect trade and economic growth and dealt with improving the business climate, increasing eligible countries from 41 and increased trade and investments. And they discussed about the future of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Also, the third consultative meeting of the African ministers of Trade consultative meeting was held on July 14, 2008.

The ministers met with the congress to discuss the new African Trade Bill, New partnership for Development Act of 2007.

As the press briefing, they expressed their support for this bill but also their reservations on the conditionality for eligibility.

At present, 41 Sub-Saharan African countries that meet AGOA's eligibility criteria that can take advantage of the trade benefits offered under the act that includes Togo and the union of Comoros according to available information.