BOOSTING INTRA-AFRICA TRADE



Africa's economy has in recent years seen average growth rates of 5%.
On paper it looks like a progressive step for the continent but still business players say the rate can improve when several factors are considered.
United Nations under Secretary General and Executive Secretary for Economic Commission for Africa Carlos Lopez has called for structural transformation of economies in the continent.
”Poor agriculture performance, low value addition in the manufacturing sector and low modernization service provision have been cited to be among the major challenges the African content is facing towards economic emancipation,” said Mr. Lopez.
Mr. Lopez also held talks with Commerce Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe, Minister of Agriculture Given Lubinda and Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda who stressed the need to break various barriers that have for a long time slowed down trade in the continent, in Lusaka.
The poor state of roads, railways and airlines are some of the areas that governments need to look at to boost intra-African trade.
Business leaders have often times said the focus should be on developing infrastructure to remove trade barriers on most goods, making them cheaper, and stimulating 1trillion dollars’ worth of economic activity across the region of more than 600 million people.

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