US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has left Washington for a seven-nation trip to Africa.

It will include a stop in Kenya for an annual trade meeting between the US and sub-Saharan countries.

On Wednesday, Clinton will open the eighth yearly forum of the US African Growth and Opportunity Act,or AGOA, in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

AGOA allows African countries to export goods into the United States without any duties.

Kenya is one of the beneficiaries of AGOA. The country's exports to the US rose 8 percent, mostly due to US legislation to promote trade in Africa.

James Shikwati, Economist, said, "What is happening in Kenya is very similar also to what is happening to the majority of African countries. Our focus is outward, you know we think in terms of business means export to America or business means export to Europe."

The global financial crisis is also expected to be a key topic at the AGOA forum.

James Shikwati, Economist, said, "I think what the aid meeting that the AGOA participants will be looking at would be issues to do with also the global financial crisis and how the trading system between Africa and America can be improved to make sure that Africans do not lose out."

Through this trip, the US is looking at ways to boost trade with the 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which currently accounts for little more than 1 percent of total US exports and only about 3 percent of US imports.

(CCTV August 5, 2009)