Africa today took a step closer to realizing a free trading zone on the continent that will open up the market for member states.
Heads of states and government signed an agreement in Egypt on Wednesday 10 June that will pave the way for a single customs union in the continent.
The Tripartite summit‚ which includes the Southern African Development Community (SADC)‚ Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and East African Community (EAC)‚ concluded its mission today by promising to fast track the integration of the African economy.
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi thanked the heads of state and called on them to drive the vision for the future of the continent. He said Africa’s time has come.
Minister of trade and industry Rob Davies represented South Africa at the summit and he pledged South Africa’s support for the ‘Cape to Cairo’ Tripartite Free Trade Area pact.
The summit comes just days before Africa’s leaders are to meet in South Africa for the African Unit summit‚ which will deal with other challenges facing the continent.
The summit in Egypt agreed that African countries should open their markets and allow trade between Africans.
Currently‚ only 12% of Africa’s trade is between countries on the continent.
Speakers at the summit called on political leaders to clear the roadblocks and begin to look at the continent for growth and survival. However sceptics said the decisions of the summit will be difficult to implement as long as African leaders still look to the West and Europe for survival.
President Sisi said it was important that Africa look at itself and find solutions to the problems that beset the continent.
He said it was important that trade was developed. The Egyptian president said it was through trade that Africa’s dream will be realized.
While leaders cheered the signing of the trade agreement‚ there was a big elephant in the room that all failed to discuss.
Most of the heads of state are currently serving more than ten years as presidents‚ and some among those who attended are refusing to allow democracy into their countries.
‘African Dream’ can come from unified continental economy
Heads of states and government signed an agreement in Egypt on Wednesday 10 June that will pave the way for a single customs union in the continent.
The Tripartite summit‚ which includes the Southern African Development Community (SADC)‚ Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and East African Community (EAC)‚ concluded its mission today by promising to fast track the integration of the African economy.
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi thanked the heads of state and called on them to drive the vision for the future of the continent. He said Africa’s time has come.
Minister of trade and industry Rob Davies represented South Africa at the summit and he pledged South Africa’s support for the ‘Cape to Cairo’ Tripartite Free Trade Area pact.
The summit comes just days before Africa’s leaders are to meet in South Africa for the African Unit summit‚ which will deal with other challenges facing the continent.
The summit in Egypt agreed that African countries should open their markets and allow trade between Africans.
Currently‚ only 12% of Africa’s trade is between countries on the continent.
Speakers at the summit called on political leaders to clear the roadblocks and begin to look at the continent for growth and survival. However sceptics said the decisions of the summit will be difficult to implement as long as African leaders still look to the West and Europe for survival.
President Sisi said it was important that Africa look at itself and find solutions to the problems that beset the continent.
He said it was important that trade was developed. The Egyptian president said it was through trade that Africa’s dream will be realized.
While leaders cheered the signing of the trade agreement‚ there was a big elephant in the room that all failed to discuss.
Most of the heads of state are currently serving more than ten years as presidents‚ and some among those who attended are refusing to allow democracy into their countries.
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