VOA慢速英語: 美國貿(mào)易協(xié)定的續(xù)保對肯尼亞來說至關(guān)重要

The Bloomberg news service recently published a list of the 20 fastest-growing economies. Bloomberg rated a total of 57 countries. China received the top rating, with the Philippines in second place. Kenya and Nigeria were the only African countries on the list. Unemployment in Kenya remains high. And some industries in the East African nation may be hurt if the United States fails to extend a trade agreement.

彭博社日前發(fā)布了全球20個增長最快經(jīng)濟體的名單。該社對總共57個國家進行了評級。中國獲得了最高評級，菲律賓排名第二?？夏醽喓湍崛绽麃喪欠侵尬ㄒ簧习駠摇？夏醽喌氖I(yè)率仍然很高。而且如果美國未能擴大貿(mào)易協(xié)定，這個東非國家的一些行業(yè)可能會受到損害。

That is the sound of an industrial sewing machine at a textiles factory near the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The factory belongs to United Aryan Limited. The company was formed 13 years ago. It employs about 10,000 people. Workers earn an average of $150 in wages a month.

這是肯尼亞首都內(nèi)羅畢附近紡織廠的一臺工業(yè)縫紉機發(fā)出的聲音。該工廠隸屬于聯(lián)合雅利安有限公司。該公司成立于13年前。它雇傭了大約1萬名工人。工人月平均工資為150美元。

United Aryan Limited exports most of the goods it makes. Each month, it sends products worth $100 million to buyers in the United States.

聯(lián)合雅利安有限公司的大部分產(chǎn)品依靠出口。該公司每月向美國客戶發(fā)出價值1億美元的產(chǎn)品。

The company has been grown partly because of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The United States Congress approved the act to permit imports of some products from Africa without the payment of duties or taxes. The U.S. trade program is set to end in September.

該公司的長足發(fā)展部分是因為《非洲增長與機會法案》。美國國會通過了這項法案，對部分從非洲進口的產(chǎn)品免征關(guān)稅。這一美國貿(mào)易項目將于今年9月到期。

Pankaj Bedi is the chairman of United Aryan Limited. He says his company would be severely hurt if the program is not extended.

潘卡吉·貝迪(Pankaj Bedi)是聯(lián)合雅利安有限公司的董事長。他說，如果該項目不延長，他的公司將遭受重創(chuàng)。

“It will be disaster. We all have been lobbying, pushing, doing whatever we can. In fact government now 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 disasters happening.”

他說：“那將是一場災(zāi)難。我們一直在游說、推動，竭盡我們所能。其實政府現(xiàn)在非常積極。你想，就連肯尼亞政府都一直在跟進。如果法案沒了，那我們就完了。就這么簡單。我們會失去所有的就業(yè)崗位，這里將會發(fā)生各種社會和安全方面的災(zāi)難。”

Bloomberg predicts Kenya’s economy will grow six percent this year. If it does, it would join China, India, the Philippines and Indonesia as the only economies with a growth rate of five percent or more. But unemployment in Kenya remains high, and 40 percent of Kenyans are very poor.

彭博社預(yù)計今年肯尼亞的經(jīng)濟將增長6%。如果實現(xiàn)，該國將能躋身于中國、印度、菲律賓和印尼之列，成為僅有的幾個增長率在5%或以上的經(jīng)濟體。但是肯尼亞的失業(yè)率仍然很高，同時40%的肯尼亞人都非常貧窮。

In Kenya, political unrest, water shortages and terrorist attacks have all slowed efforts to help the country’s economy. If the trade agreement is not renewed, many Kenyans would suffer.

在肯尼亞，政治動亂，水資源匱乏和恐怖襲擊放慢了國家經(jīng)濟增長的腳步。如果貿(mào)易協(xié)定沒有更新,許多肯尼亞人將受到影響。

Aly Khan Satchu is a financial expert. He says the trade agreement is very important to Kenya’s economy.

Aly Khan Satchu是一位金融專家。他表示這份貿(mào)易協(xié)定對肯尼亞的經(jīng)濟有著至關(guān)重要的作用。

“There’s been an explosion in what is called 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.”

他表示“在所謂的EPZ也就是出口品加工區(qū)都有爆發(fā)性的增長”在那里政府協(xié)助紡織品出口為主的公司。這對肯尼亞的經(jīng)濟起到了重要積極的影響。

I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.

我是Christopher Jones-Cruise。