The continent has the key elements to drive and support a robust strategy to leverage on domestic resources that are essential in making trade and industrialisation key drivers of the transformation of the African continent. The primary objective is to give an opportunity to all Africans to participate in the Agenda 2063 outcomes, so that African growth is not classified as fragile because jobs and commodities don’t contribute to transformation but simply generate a disenchanted youth and fluctuating revenue streams.

What would it take for African countries to stop exporting the bulk of their oil, diamonds and maize to foreign countries rather than to other African countries?

Trade creates linkages that are essential to the integration agenda. Although intra- African trade is not a panacea for development, it is quite important. Small & Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) could become more competitive by creating economies of scale across their respective regions. As they grow, SMEs can strengthen product value chains and facilitate the development of technology and knowledge.