8th Session of the Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration: statement by Stephen N. Karingi Director, Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Division 6th February 2013 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

This statement delivered by Stephen N. Karingi Director, Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Division at the 8th Session of the Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration. Mr. Karingi, on his remarks highlighted that, The Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Division, which is the ECA’s main custodian of these issues, also relies on this Committee’s profound wisdom and guidance to serve member States better in its area of competence now and in the future. This session will be focusing on mainstreaming regional integration, the dialogue on which commenced at the Regional Workshop yesterday with the presentation and discussions on the findings emerging from the comprehensive national survey we conducted on this important issue. Skeptics and afro pessimists would point to some countries’ record of accomplishment in implementing treaties and protocols on regional integration in the absence of strong enforcement mechanisms and affirm that achieving a Continental Free Trade Area in a short span of five years will be impossible to achieve.