It is hard to connect all the 54 African states at a go, but regional developments will eventually lead to the whole integration eventually.
Africa needs policies to allow companies to move people and goods easier across Africa. Currently Africa trades more with countries outside the continent than across the continent.
Africa does its 97 percent of its international trade through ports and 80 percent of intra-African trade through road and rail according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA.
Africa’s transnational transport is expensive, inefficient which restrict business activity, global competitiveness and intra-regional trade.
Africa needs to start working together. Governments to listen and work with each other, governments must engage stakeholders that can offer solutions as well.
South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Zambia are the only four African countries which allow transportation of commercial goods at night. Something that should be adopted by other African nations to encourage businesses since it creates efficiency and speedy delivery.
“Customs across Africa have to move from revenue collectors to trade facilitators to promote growth,” said Johan Aurik, global managing partner and chairman of the board, A.T Kearney, UK, at the World Economic Forum.
One stop border posts being put up in different regions across Africa, such as East Africa, Zambia, will stimulate more growth.
