African countries standing alone cannot go far-Kagame

{President Kagame has said Africa’s challenges are also opportunities.}

He said this, Wednesday, Oct 1 as he was addressing over 700 government and business leaders at the Global Business Forum in Dubai.

He said “African integration is very key. African countries standing alone cannot go far. Together, we can make the kind of movement forward we all want.”

Kagame addressed alongside with other two presidents who say countries of world’s second most populous continent must lift their level of trade with each other

“It is in Africa’s interest to grow our businesses across our political borders,” President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, said at the Africa Global Business Forum in Dubai.

Mahama spoke on a panel alongside the President of Ethiopia, Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, and the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.

Intra-Africa trade has been a persistent issue for the region where the bulk of its trade is still with Europe and America.

“Our trade follows our colonial past,” Mahama said.

Currently, intra-Africa trade roughly stands at between 10 to 15 per cent. Comparatively, around 60 per cent of among European countries is on their own continent, there is a similar figure in Asia, and the figure for North America is roughly 40 per cent.

The Presidents said Africa would be a much larger economic powerhouse if it is able to significantly increase intra-trade and subsequently would help bring the continent into greater economic integration with the global economy.

But the Presidents were also critical of red tape that is blocking the region’s growth.

Mahama, criticising visa policies, said Africa needs to have a similar concept to the European Union that would at least allow greater freedoms for African travellers.

He said this would encourage trade between Africa’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).