Think tanks chart the path for Africa's accelerated transformation through regional integration:

Abstract

Africa is well positioned to chart the path for transformation through regional integration. But it should go beyond the narrow focus on trade in goods. This was the conclusion reached, following an afternoon discussion that brought together a high-level panel on regional integration featuring representatives from African think tanks and the African Development Bank on Sunday in Johannesburg. Intra-African trade in goods was reported to be insignificant and the high-level panel suggested that regional integration should also cover: the movement of people to ensure labour mobility, which is vital in bringing wages down; the movement of talent through the promotion of mutual recognition of qualifications in fields such as medicine; and the movement of capital by facilitating stock exchanges cross listing to enhance capital mobilization.