{{ Intra-African trade fell from 22 per cent in 1997 to 11 per cent in 2011, according to the 2013 Economic Development in Africa Report.}}
The decline is attributed to problems such as poor roads and energy deficit.
Businesspeople who attended the launch of the report titled ‘Intra-African Trade: Unlocking Private Sector Dynamism’, were also of common view that potential of the private sector had not been sufficiently exploited to boost trade relations in the resource-rich continent.
Speaking during the launch of the report, Confederation of Tanzania Industries chairman Felix Mosha, said infrastructural woes were hindering progress in the industrial sector.
Mr Mosha also said the decline in trade was compounded by the fact that there was no actual connection between various researches done by universities or other institutions and their application in solving problems facing the society today. To him, agriculture is still unexploited to enhance trade on the continent.
“If Africa wants to excel in agri-business it must invest in research and development to improve innovations and creativity in solving some problems facing the continent,” he said.
NMG
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