"Thank you for that gracious introduction. I am honored to be here to open the 4th AGOA Forum for the United States, on behalf of President George W. Bush. I first would like to extend the sincere thanks of the United States, and of all the nations represented here, to President Wade of Senegal and his cabinet, Prime Minister Sall, Foreign Minister Gadio and Commerce Minister Decroix for their hosting of this forum in Senegal. Dakar is truly an amazing city with a great history and natural beauty.

"Mr. President, your government has done a superb job in following the excellent example set by Mauritius, when they hosted the AGOA Forum in 2003. To Mr. Madun Dulloo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for Mauritius, we all thank you again for the successful forum in your country.

"I especially want to acknowledge and thank the ministers of the many countries that have come to Dakar that will co-host sessions over the next few days. Your participation is vital to securing a successful outcome here and advancing the development needs of Africa.

"We are gathered here because we share a common belief that trade and investment are critical to Africa's future. I believe that the progress that we make at this AGOA Forum will profoundly affect the future of many African countries by improving the opportunities and market access available to your people. The theme of this year's ministerial is "Expanding and Diversifying Trade to Promote Growth and Competitiveness." I am here because I see so much opportunity in the area of agriculture, but I recognize that moving from opportunity to exports requires hard work, investment and technical expertise.

"The United Nations has challenged all of us through the Millennium Development Goals to reduce by half the number of people who suffer from hunger by the year 2015. The United States shares this goal. The causes may be complex but famine, food insecurity and malnutrition in the 21st century are preventable.

"President Bush and the G-8 leaders just met in Scotland last month and they pledged to increase development aid by $50 billion dollars and they also agreed to an ambitious debt cancellation package for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, from which a number of countries will soon benefit.

"The United States has pledged to devote new resources to education and combating malaria in Africa. These are in addition to the largest international health initiative in history that is dedicated to a single disease - the five-year, $15 billion effort to combat HIV/AIDS.

"But as President Bush said just last month, and I am quoting, "while aid and debt relief can create better conditions for development, it is trade that provides the engine for development." The poor of the world do not experience trade as globalization. They experience trade as running water or electrical power. It comes as decent housing, access to education and better health care for their families.

"President Bush in a bold leadership statement has called the WTO Doha negotiations "the most practical and important anti-poverty initiative in the world." We in the United States are prepared to eliminate agricultural subsudies and have challenged the rest of the world to say that they are ready to do the same.

"I was at the WTO mini-ministerial meeting in Dalian, China just last week. I listened very carefully to the ministers there and it confirmed my belief that we need to achieve an ambitious result from these negotiations this year. It is critical that we seize the moment that now presents itself for genuine trade reform, especailly in agriculture. For if we cannot achieve a positive result in the weeks ahead it may be a long time before another opportunity comes to us again.

"AGOA is central to the Bush Administration's objectives as it encourages trade and investment and because it encourages governments to implement good policies. We are very proud of the results of AGOA. It has helped to boost two-way trade between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa to over $44 billion in 2004. U.S. imports from sub-Saharan Africa increased by over 50 percent from 2000 to 2004.

"It has helped to make the United States a destination for exports from sub-Saharan Africa and boosted foreign investment by the United States and other nations. The U.S. now accounts for more than 24 percent of exports, the largest single-country share of all of Africa's major trading partners.

"AGOA has also helped to diversify exports. Non-oil AGOA imports, including apparel, automobiles and processed agricultural goods - have more than doubled since 2001 reaching $3.5 billion in 2004. This access to the U.S. market has led to the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs in Africa and attracted hundreds of millions of dollars of new investment.

"Now, in order to build on this success, President Bush extended the duty-free access through 2015 for all products from AGOA countries last year. More than 98 percent of products from AGOA countries entered the United States duty free. This offers another full decade designed for continued investment and growth.

"I come before you today after having spent the past few days visiting the island nation of Madagascar, where I had the opportunity to see and learn first-hand how AGOA can assist development opportunities in African nations. I was there to strengthen the bond of friendship between the United States and Madagascar. Madagascar is a nation that is taking the necessary steps to embrace political and economic reform that advances the freedoms and opportunities available for their citizens.

"It is a central part of President Bush's foreign policy to reward countries like Madagascar that are well-governed, invest in people and encourage economic and personal freedom.

"The United States and Madagascar are in the process of launching activities of enhanced cooperation and trade in the areas of rural development to help address economic, environmental and social challenges; capacity building in trade to help facilitate export and promotion of agriculture products from Madagascar to the U.S. and agricultural research, extension and education to help farmers learn better farming practices to increase yields and income. We are proud of their success, which is an example that I hope will continue to be replicated across the African continent.

"While governments, like Madagascar, can foster an environment in which African agriculture can flourish with new science and technology, the private sector also has a very important role. In the United States we strongly believe in the value of the private sector finding cost-effective solutions to common problems, including food security. It is through that innovation in the marketplace of ideas that we have been able to achieve so much.

"The purpose of the AGOA Forum is to exchange practical ideas between each of us from the United States or from across Africa about how to make AGOA a success for exporters and importers on both sides of the Atlantic. Our goal here is to agree on the shared responsibilities that we have as governments, businesses or interested groups, to ensure that AGOA leads to increased exports, investment and employment and income in each country.

"The plenary and workshops of the Ministerial will focus on three key areas. First, how key trading sectors such as agriculture, textiles and energy can help governments and businesses to understand how to export competitively. Secondly, the infrastructure for trade transportation and physical infrastructure as well as the financial sector and the investment. The quality of roads, the availability of cold storage, the reliability of electricity, and the cost of a loan affect the price and quality of every single product that is exported. Thirdly, how the WTO and African regional economic organizations can help to increase trade across Africa and with the U.S. and the world.

My colleagues from the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Office of the Global Aids Coordinator are also here to discuss the Millennium Challenge grants and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, two signature programs launched by President Bush that are an important component of U.S. assistance to Africa.

"We have much cause to celebrate. We have much to be proud of in what we have already achieved but my fellow leaders and ministers, we cannot be satisfied. Much more work remains to be done.

"Mr. President, fellow ministers, I truly look forward to a productive and respectful exchange of ideas and information today and in the days ahead.

"I am here to listen and to learn from each of you. It is my hope that through the exchange and dialogue that occurs this week, we will help to bring more families out of poverty to break the cycle of famine and to empower each of you to create a better future for your nation and your people.

"You have my pledge and the pledge of our President, President Bush, to do all that the United States can to partner with you in this effort through each of the challenges and successes that you may face. We will work alongside you.

"Dakar was once a port of embarkation from which there was no return for many Africans. Let us write a new legacy for future generations of Africans that marks Dakar as the port of embarkation to a prosperous and free Africa.

"Thank you ladies and gentleman. Now, before I leave the podium, allow me to invite your attention to the screen for a special message from President George W. Bush, who was unable to be with us in person today but sends this greeting.

"Thank you very much."