ICTs for Regional Trade and Integration in Africa
Trade is critically important to Africa's economic prospects, as a source of revenue, investment and employment, yet Africa's trade is highly fragmented and the weakness of its trade performance constrains growth and poverty reduction. Af...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/01/19557742/icts-regional-trade-integration-africa http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19018 |
| Summary: | Trade is critically important to
Africa's economic prospects, as a source of revenue,
investment and employment, yet Africa's trade is highly
fragmented and the weakness of its trade performance
constrains growth and poverty reduction. Africa today
generates only about 2.5-3.5 per cent of world trade.
African countries mostly export primary commodities while
importing manufactured goods, from Europe, North America or
developing regions outside Africa. Only about 10 per cent of
Africa's trade is exchanged within the continent, a
much lower proportion than in other world regions. Small
domestic markets, landlocked status and limited natural
resources restrict the trade potential of many countries.
These structural factors inhibit the development of
manufacturing sectors which could supply both African and
world markets. Trade barriers are strongest at critical
points along the supply chain between producers and
consumers of goods and services, particularly points of
entry/exit between countries. |
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