Third meeting of committee on regional integration: openning statement By Hakim Ben Hammouda

Abstract

Opening Statement by Hakim Ben Hammouda, Director, Trade and Regional Integration Division Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at the Third Meeting of Committee on Regional Integration. Mr. Hmmouda, on his remarks highlighted that, African countries have been in a tremendous struggle to advance their economic and social development with a view to putting the region on the path of sustained growth and progress through integration. Strengthened regional integration should make it possible to rationally and cost effectively exploit the continent's huge resource endowments, human capacities, climate and cultures for its people's collective well being. Providing adequate financing towards realizing the complex agenda of integration remains a key contemporary concern. We continue to face a situation where there is quite a significant mismatch between resources and the substantial level of integration ambitions and targets.