Talkmore chidede, tralac researcher, discusses how intra regional trade in the southern african development community can be improved. Sectoral productivity gaps in south africa, 20 9 figure 5. Africas economic growth continues to strengthen, reaching an estimated 3. The regional indicative strategic development plan risdp outlines a series of milestones to be achieved within the context of the sadc common agenda. Regional integration, sustainable development and global value chains in southern africa1. The role of south africa in sadc regional integration. Regional integration helps countries overcome divisions that impede the flow of goods, services, capital, people and ideas. The challenges of regional integration in southern africa. This paper will make it clear the impact of regional economic integration on south africa industry.
Regional economic integration has enabled countries to focus on issues that are relevant to their stage of development as well as encourage trade between neighbors. This paper examines the history of regional integration in africa, what has motivated it, the different initiatives that african governments have pursued, the nature of the integration process, and the current challenges. Africas electricity sustainability through regional integration channels. Integration in africa can only be a longterm attempt to solve economic problems, because of its high absorption of scarce and therefore expensive factors of production. This paper draws on the authors contributions for chapter iv, chapter v and chapter vi.
This paper represents the opinions of the author, and is the product of professional research. Towards agenda 2063 provides a ready and accessible resource for trade policymakers, parliamentarians, the private sector, academia and civil society, as well as the general public. For regional integration in africa to be a success, africa s leaders will have to move beyond grand gestures and abstract visions. South africa s integration into regional value chains appears to be mixed.
Regional integration in africa world trade organization. It offers short and medium term forecasts on the main socioeconomic factors such as jobs, while at the same time examining the. The political economy of regional integration in southern. What is the extent of economic dominance by south africa. This paper examines the history of regional integration in africa, what has. According to keet,2005,p22 since the birth of democratic south africa, regional cooperation is also seen in addition to the broader african aimsto be. Regional integration for africa s economic prosperity. The record of regional integration in africa so far has been a sobering one, and many regional groupings are marked by uncoordinated initiatives, political conflicts and low levels of intra.
In relation to this, this paper will explore the several attempts made at regional economic integration in africa and the problems encountered so far. This paper draws on the authors contributions for chapter iv, chapter v and chapter vi of unctads. Monitoring regional integration in southern africa konrad. Regional economic integration on south african construction industry has been controlled by two main regional integration entities, the southern african development community sadc and the southern african customs union sacu. Regionalism in africa has always had a strong political motive. Africa s regional integration index is an action tool measuring the progress of an africa on the move. To move the regional integration process forward, african countries have also adopted the new partnership for africas development nepad, the overarching development framework for the region, recognized by the united nations and its agencies and such global bodies as the g8 industrial countries. Rsa republic of south africa saarc south asian association for regional cooperation sacu southern african customs union sadc southern african development community angola, botswana, lesotho, malawi, mozambique, namibia, swaziland, south africa, tanzania, zambia, zimbabwe sadcc southern african development coordinating conference. Sajeev abstract the study investigated the economic hegemony of south africa in the sadc region, by answering the primary question.
Intra regional exports by regional economic community % 4 figure 3. In contrast to integration, cooperation seems to be a more useful approach to tackle the urgent employment and growth problems. At least two unions, the southern african custom union and the east african community have existed since 1910 and. This is a working paper, and hence it represents research in progress. Apr 30, 2011 plus, postindependence conflict in africa has left much of the continent with a legacy of poor governance and a lack of political integration which free trade zones aim to address. In the case of regional industrialisation policy, south africa did not take the lead, despite its strong and. Mwasha abstract regional economic integration rei refers to the commercial policy of discriminatively reducing or eliminating trade barriers only between the states joining together. Such policies vary from trade agreements to extensive treaties in. The economic and political strength of south africa in southern africa is undeniable. In southern africa in particular, with its comparatively small economies, r egional integration was meant to play a. The paper concludes by outlining that regional integration is a diverse component that entails the private sector and economically advanced regional states such as south africa to be at the fore in orchestrating developmental blueprints and that there is a need for the necessary support from regional heads of states as so to realize the. In view of the greater emphasis on regional economic integration processes in the international as well as the european context, coupled with the renewed commitments among west african countries to further promote and develop uemoa and ecowas, the question arises as to the.
Pdf the role of south africa in sadc regional integration. Sectoral productivity gaps in botswana, 20 10 figure 7. Through the use ofregional integration, the studyfurther examined various south africas key economy performance since 1994 which are the main contributing. Lamu port south sudanethiopia transport nepad new partnership for africa s development ngo nongovernmental organisation peria political economy of regional integration in africa pida programme for infrastructure development rec ri regional economic community regional integration sadc southern african development community sapp sida. There are four main types of regional economic integration. The lagos plan of action was a critical agreement in the history of regional integration in africa. Monitoring the process of regional integration in southern africa in 2008. These divisions are a constraint to economic growth, especially in developing countries. The aim of regional integration is to uplift the least developed countries, and this is the. Trade and regional integration in south africas national. Economic growth that exceeds the 2 to 3 per cent range and is linked to rapid industrial development must surely be one of these sources of power.
This dissertation will focus primarily on the economic aspects of regional integration, and the importance of regional economic integration to africa. The africa regional integration index, now in its first edition, aims to plug the knowledge gap on regional integration. Africa s integration journey towards a more connected, competitive and businessfriendly continent is underway and its roadmap is, in some areas, under construction. The importance of regional economic integration in africa by. Africas regional integration index is an action tool measuring the progress of an africa on the move. However, the regional integration process is not necessarily smooth and linear.
In october 2008, plans were agreed to create a super free trade zone encompassing 26 african countries, stretching from libya in the north to south africa. Africas integration journey towards a more connected, competitive and businessfriendly continent is underway and its roadmap is, in some areas, under construction. More focused and gradual steps that are carefully executed at the domestic level may be the best place to start. The benefits of regional economic integration for developing countries in africa. Making african integration a reality africa renewal. All of this makes trade integration a key element in the continents ongoing integration journey. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Comparing the eu with sadc 165 regional integration in southern africa. Regional integration in southern africa overview of recent developments lolette kritzingervan niekerk emmanuel pinto moreira december 2002 the findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. Africas challenges call for pragmatism and a sense of urgency in action.
The challenges of regional integration in africa page 6 paper 145 june 2007. The white and black race in south africa are constantly conflicting over economic resources, while the black race of south africa is also in conflict with other african migrants, depicting xenophobia. Sacu, regional integration and the overlap issue in. Jun 27, 2018 regional integration refers to various types of political and economic agreements that form closer ties between sovereign countries. Pdf the challenges of regional integration in southern. This chapter examines the uncivilized and barbarous killing of black nonnationals in south africa who are better known as makwerekwere by natives during the april of 2015. Pdf regional integration in southern africa a guidebook. Accepted 12 september, 2008 regional integration is increasingly being accepted as essential in facilitating economic and political development.
Regional integration, trade and conflict in southern africa. Boosting intra regional trade in africa, and also within the southern african development community sadc, has for some years now been an important focus of the regional integration agenda. In fy 2017, the world bank group engaged in projects dedicated to regional. The objectives of this paper are to study the literature related to regional economic integration and identify the general benefits which can be obtained from economic integration schemes. Regional integration in subsaharan africa experience and prospects faezeh foroutan the emphasis of regional integration in subsaharan africa should shift from the integration of goods markets to the regional coordination of macroeconomic and microeconomic policies, the harmonization of administrative rules and regulations, and. Chapter three the achievements of sadc is the core of the document. For the countries of southern africa, regional cooperation and integration are preconditions for accelerated economic and social. It was prominently supported by eca and was adopted in 1980 at the oau extraordinary summit in lagos, nigeria, where it was launched as a special initiative of the organization. The other top performers are not strong wealth creators in the region botswana, 2% of regional gdp. The background outlines the xenophobic attacks that swept the country in. It is a dynamic and evolving tool that tracks how the continents eight regional economic communities recs, and countries within each rec, are doing on regional integration overall and by priority areas. Trade and law center for south africa tralac, wto economic research and statistics division staff working paper ersd201114. Unearthing the challenges and prospects of regional. The challenges of regional integration for development in africa.
This chapter considers the experience of regional integration schemes in subsaharan africa ssa. South africa s exports to sadc as a share of gdp averaged 4. Mccarthy further notes that even if regional integration could in the end succeed as a formal exercise, sustainable growth will require competitiveness in world markets. For example, progresses have been uneven, so far, among the eight regional economic communities recs recognized by the african union commission auc 3 and supposed to be the building block of regional integration in africa. Trudi hartzenberg trade law centre for southern africa tralac manuscript date. These integration milestones help the southern african development community sadc and its partners to measure the progress that is being made towards the ultimate objective of the regional indicative strategic development. When trade is more interconnected africas high number of small economies access larger markets and regional hubs source from the region and are able to use the imports to grow. The political economy of regional integration in southern africa. Southern african development community integration.
South africa represents 61% of regional gdp and is first of the top performing countries. Promoting regional integration in the southern african development. The money we get from the african union is rarely used for projects in egypt, south africa or nigeria. South africa is the strongest economy in southern africa and in the whole continent of africa. An analysis of south africa s role in regional integration in southern africa. Relative productivity and changes in employment in south africa 9 figure 4. It is because of this that regional integration is needed in africa, as this will assist in enhancing economic development and growth. Regional integration can be seen as cooperation in a broader context but can also be an important framework, through programmes within each regional bloc. The challenges of regional integration in southern africa mark chingono and steve nakana university of zimbabwe, p. Instead of pursuing market integration, regional economic organizations in africa should focus on regional cooperation, with market integration as a future goal. Assessing regional integration in africa i united nations. Kenya presents a clear example of racism, xenophobia, intolerance, social cohesion, integration and diversity. The making or braking of the organization article pdf available in journal of international commercial law and technology 53 january.
Since the success of regional integration ri in europe epitomized by the european union eu, the mutual potential benefits that. When trade is more interconnected africa s high number of small economies access larger markets and regional hubs source from the region and are able to use the imports to grow. A handbook on regional integration in africa commonwealth. Regional integration refers to various types of political and economic agreements that form closer ties between sovereign countries. The challenges of regional integration for development in. The trade integration objective of the east african community eac has spurred economic migrants within the region, which has given the leeway for the migrants to extend their businesses across borders. This study presents a political economy analysis of the economic community of west african states ecowas, focusing in particular on what drives and hampers this regional organisation in preventing and resolving conflicts in west africa, and in promoting a regional approach to agriculture and food security.
In the medium term, growth is projected to accelerate to 4 percent in 2019 and 4. For regional integration in africa to be a success, africas leaders will have to move beyond grand gestures and abstract visions. Africa regional integration stories from the field the world bank groups regional integration program in subsaharan africa allows countries to come together to address challenges of small and fragmented markets. An analysis of south africas role in regional integration. Regional economic integration in africa hasan tuluy, 2016. Relative productivity and changes in employment in botswana 10 figure 6. The benefits of regional economic integration for developing. Trade effects of regional economic integration in africa. History of africas regional integration efforts united.
Focusing on southern africa, and paying particular attention to the two main regional integration entities, the southern african development. The importance of regional economic integration in africa by manone regina madyo submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of commerce in the subject economics at the university of south africa supervisor. Regional integration, sustainable development and global. Advancing regional integration in southern africa an.
Yet africa currently has 14 regional integration groups whilst each sub. In contrast, as intra africa tariffs are higher, integration within africa would support manufacturing and natural resources. Regional economic integration concept on south african. This is about the same rate achieved in 2017 and up 1. Trade integration africa regional integration index. Africas regional integration will benefit all africa renewal.
Introduction to the regional economic integration in africa 1 ects regional economic communities rec status of the regional economic integration in africa 2 ects action plan for boosting intraafrican trade 0. A guidebook 6 abbreviations aec asean economic community aec african. This is the most basic form of economic cooperation. The annual african economic outlook report highlights economic prospects and projections for the continent as a whole and for each of the 54 countries. Pdf south african economic development in sadc subregional. To move the regional integration process forward, african countries have also adopted the new partnership for africa s development nepad, the overarching development framework for the region, recognized by the united nations and its agencies and such global bodies as the g8 industrial countries. The discussion is concluded by a few observations on challenges facing regional integration in eastern and southern africa esa. Regional trade integration, in the strict sense of the concept, is a relatively new development in southern africa, although africas postcolonial leaders had, in the early 1960s, called for integration of africas political and economic structures.
56 864 1159 952 1311 1436 1047 623 693 883 1405 304 75 300 340 1258 1166 325 351 1151 1458 1433 1375 268 1170 316 1456 54 372 274 320 838 45 1279 1138 1502 1393 237 340 135 171 901 1379 1481 978 991 514 931