Regional Economic Communities Urged to Deepen Their Mutual Cooperation to Move the African Integration Agenda Forward

Abstract

Africa is the continent that is most in need of integration, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was addressing the meeting of the Coordination Committee of the African Union, ECA, African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The Committee, reaffirmed its strong commitments towards an intensified AU cooperation with ECA, AfDB and the RECs. Urging participants to advance the continental integration agenda and called for the strengthening of continental integration. The overarching objective of integration is the establishment of an African Economic Community where there would be free movement of persons, goods, services and capital, as well as monetary union. It also underscored the need to develop transport, energy and ICT infrastructure and to harmonies the legal and regulatory frameworks.