VOA标准英语2015--肯尼亚经济增长取决于更新的贸易协定

Growing Kenya Economy Hinges on Renewal¹ of US Trade Pact 肯尼亚经济增长取决于更新的贸易协定

NAIROBI—

Kenya has emerged third among the top 20 fastest-growing economies in the world, according to a 2015 survey by Bloomberg. Kenya and Nigeria are the only African countries that made it on the list, which placed China first, followed by the Philippines.  However unemployment in Kenya remains² high and some industries face a shock unless the U.S. renews a key trade agreement.

The sound of this industrial sewing machine fills the air at the United Aryan Limited textiles factory on the outskirts³ of Nairobi as workers are busy trying to make production deadlines.

Established 13 years ago, the company employs approximately 10,000 people, earning an average income of $150 a month.

Most of its business is in exports. Each month, it sends goods worth $100 million to clients in the U.S. 

United Aryan has benefited from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. trade program that provides duty-free import of certain products from sub-Saharan Africa.

But that all may change in September, when the program is set to expire.

Pankaj Bedi, the founder⁴ and chairman of United Aryan Limited, said his company would face serious consequences if AGOA is not renewed.

“It will be disaster. We all have been lobbying, pushing doing whatever we can.  In fact government is very proactive, even the Kenyan government has been, you know, following through. If it is not there then we are not there. Simple. We’ll lose all the jobs; there will be social, security all kind of disaster happening,” said Bedi.

According to the Bloomberg survey of 57 countries, Kenya’s projected 6 percent growth rate this year would see it join China, India, Philippines and Indonesia as the only economies enjoying 5 percent growth or higher.

However, unemployment in Kenya remains high, and 40 percent of Kenyans live below the poverty line. Losing the trade agreement could make the situation worse.

Financial analyst⁵ Aly Khan Satchu said AGOA adds jobs and revenues to Kenya’s economy.

“There’s been an explosion in what you call the EPZ, Export Processing Zones, where the government has assisted companies who are predominantly exporting textiles. It’s been pretty major and has had a dynamic, positive economic impact in Kenya,” said Satchu.

In the past, Kenya has struggled to attain⁶ strong economic growth due to political unrest, periodic droughts and attacks blamed on terrorists.  The business community believes fast growth can continue if AGOA continues as well.

1 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 attain   

vt.达到，获得，完成

参考例句：

• I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
• His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。