Intra-Africa trade the solution

With the population of
Africa expected to reach two
billion by 2050 – more than
China and India combined
– the productive capacity of
the continent needs to grow
in order to find jobs for all
the young people coming
into the labour market,
says David Luke, trade
expert and co-ordinator of
the African Trade Policy
Centre at the UN Economic
Commission for Africa.
“And trade has a big role
to play.
“Most successful trading
countries are those that
trade with their neighbours,
but that has not been
happening to the full
potential that it could in
Africa,” he says.
Intra Africa trade
amounts to 17% while in
Europe this figure is over
60%.
“There is room for growth
– and African leaders need
to understand this.”