AFRICA INTEGRATION ENVISIONED FOR ECONOMIC TAKE OFF

Pragmatic policies, hard work, and regional integration efforts have been attributed to economic growth of 5 percent per annum experienced in Africa currently since 2000.

 

The President of Kenya, Mr Mwai kibaki has said it is now projected that in the next decade, the five fastest growing economies in the world will be in Africa.

 

The President who was speaking during the official opening of the conference of African ministers of integration at Nairobi, Kenya said “integration can be traced to Pan Africanism that led to the creation of the Organization of Africa Unity in 1963 and also the Abuja Treaty of 1991 that outlined the roadmap for integration in Africa.”  

 

Mr Kibaki said what they are called upon is to look at practical ways and means of realizing the long cherished dream for Africa. “We need to make SMART recommendations that take into account economic, social and political realities in our continent.”

 

“I am encouraged,” he said by “Ministers In – Charge of integration, you have set forth the momentum to speed up the integration process at regional and continental levels by coming up with a Minimum Integration Programme compromising activities and priority projects which are to be undertaken by Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Member States, the Africa Union itself and other parties.” 

 

He pointed out that integration is a process which cannot be achieved all at once, or according to single plan. However, he said they need to identify early enough any political and social issues that tend to slow down the process of integration, discuss them in the spirit of African mutual support and assistance and recommend appropriate measures.

 

Nevertheless, on the implementation of the past agreed decisions, treaties and protocol the President said “my own quick observation is that the realities on the ground are different from the ideas in our protocol, treaties and memorandums of understanding,” hence he challenged member states to remain committed to implement their agreements or else integration will largely remain an academic and talk show exercise.

 

Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under – Secretary - General and Executive Secretary of ECA said Regional integration is necessary for Africa due to the benefits of a large and more coherent economic space and also because of the growing trend towards regionalism in other parts of the world.

 

“The progress that has been made in regional integration in Africa is evident from common policies and programmes spanning arrangements for trade liberalization, macroeconomics convergence, and monetary and financial integration,” Janneh said.

 

He challenged the ministers of trade to fast track the establishment of an African Free trade building on the landmark decision of COMESA, EAC and SADC to come together to create a single Free Trade Area embracing 26 countries. “The gains of the Southern Africa Power Pool are estimated at over $ 785 million between 1995 and 2010. Agreed parameters ranging from reducing inflation and fiscal deficits to lowering external debt are helping African countries to achieve and maintain economic stability and move to greater convergence.”

 

 The free movement of people in ECOWAS has been on for over 30 years and has been replicated in other sub-regions. “Regional air networks are also notably beginning to emerge,” the UN official said.

 

He further said Pan – Africa institutions of integration covering secretariat, judicial and parliamentary functions have been created and also exist or are being replicated at sub-regional level.” Indeed, regional responses to common problems have become the norm as can be seen from the IGAD response to the drought in the horn of Africa.”

 

However, Janneh said in spite of these notable achievements, it is clear that there is still much to be done. “Intra – Africa trade remains abysmally low at about 10 percent compared to rates of up to 60 percent in Europe while space of movement towards FTAs remains uneven. Infrastructure deficits remain a major challenge with limited financing for regional projects while free movement of people across regional Economic Communities is barely existent.”

 

Nevertheless, he said Africa should not be discouraged by this situation since it’s a developing continent and integration is an ongoing process.

 

On his part Mr Erustus Mwencha, the Deputy Chairperson, Africa Union Commission said they are out to set the pace with which “we are currently implementing agreed actions and commitments, especially the key protocols.”

 

“We also need to make improvements in the manner in which we provide responses in support of advancing our mutually agreed activities, including the harmonizing our activities and programmes,” Mr Mwencha said.

 

He pointed out that they are aware of the enormous challenges they are facing as a continent, “owing to human and financial capacity constraints.”

 

The deputy chairperson of AU which is anchored on the vision “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa,” added that the hurdles and challenges are not insurmountable and that enhanced integration is one viable window for addressing Africa’s developmental challenges.

 

“I dare say that they journey for the realization of an Africa Economic Community (AEC) is long and full of many challenges,” he said “but this is an imperative that requires all of us to make necessary sacrifices.”