Deepening African Integration: Intra-Africa Trade for Development and Poverty Reduction

Trade flourishes when countries produce what their trading partners are eager to buy. With a few exceptions, this is not yet the case with Africa. It produces what it doesn’t consume and consumes what it doesn’t produce. It’s a weakness that often frustrates policy makers; it complicates regional integration and is a primary reason for the low intra-regional trade, which is between 10% and 12% of Africa’s total trade. In this interview, Ambassador Darlington Mwape, Senior Fellow, International Centre for Trade & Sustainable Development talks on Intra-African trade and how the continental trade agreement will benefit Africa.