The Economic/Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy represents American economic policy interests in Lesotho, including the continuing economic development of the mountain kingdom, and advises mission leadership and the U.S. Government on economic and labor issues in Lesotho. The aim of the section is to promote fruitful bilateral trade and investment relations between Lesotho and United States of America and to build support for U.S. Government economic policies through innovative programs and activities.The section’s core functions include the promotion of Lesotho’s economic development, the diversification of Lesotho’s exports to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and analysis and reporting on macroeconomic trends in Lesotho.Through its links with the USAID Trade Hub in Gaborone, Botswana, the economic section seeks to improve the capacity of local businesses to produce market competitive goods with an ultimate aim of developing a strong export sector that will expand the country’s benefits from AGOA. The section strives to help improve the capacity of selected industrial sectors in Lesotho to meet export standards and make these businesses more competitive in the U.S. market.
