Achieving free trade area and customs union (CU) : emerging challenges and opportunities for Southern Africa

Abstract

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has five sub regional offices. The main function of the sub regional Offices is to translate much of UNECA's normative and analytical work into operational activities at the country and sub regional levels, particularly with respect to harmonising policies and programmes of action, providing policy advisory services, and generally serving as focal points for policy dialogue and information exchange all aimed at facilitating regional integration.