Zuma urges regional infrastructure
- Source: Xinhua
- [15:08 June 13 2011]
- Comments
South African President Jacob Zuma addresses the opening of the second tripartite summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community (EAC), in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 12, 2011. COMESA, SADC and EAC authorities gathered in Johannesburg on Sunday to launch negotiations towards the establishment of a Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFRA) comprising the three Regional Economic Communities (RECs). Photo: Xinhua
By Ntandoyenkosi Ncube
"There is no single country that can prosper on its own. The Free Trade Area will certainly help us (Africa) accelerate regional integration," South Africa President Jacob Zuma Sunday called on Africa heads of state to invest in building regional infrastructure.
"We need to be absolutely clear. Removing barriers to intra- African trade will in themselves not lead to the realization of our full potential for growth and development," Zuma said as heads of state and government of member countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community (EAC) Sunday launched negotiations towards the establishment of a Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFRA) comprising the three Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
COMESA, SADC and EAC authorities gathered in Johannesburg for the second tripartite summit in line with the African union (AU) initiative which seeks to promote free trade amongst all African countries.
As the leaders are pushing for regional integration and TFRA it is clear that poor Infrastructure which encompasses transport, telecommunications, water and sanitation and power is one of the biggest factors keeping Africa from achieving its full growth potential.
"We must simultaneously design interventions that will build and production capabilities to fully take advantage of more open regional markets. We must redouble our efforts to build and rehabilitate the regional infrastructure that must underpin production and trade growth," President Zuma told Africa leaders.
