The Economic Development in Africa Report 2009 asserts that integration - when implemented within a broader development strategy that promotes economic and trade diversification, structural changes and technological development - could enhance productive capacities, realize economies of scale and improve competitiveness, serving as a launching pad for effective African participation in the global economy.
The Report reviews previous integration activities, and then goes on to analyze intra regional trade flows and determinants in the goods and services trade, and the importance of labor mobility and migration.
Intra-African investment is playing an increasing role in funding development initiatives, with West Africa and South Africa especially showing good investment potential, according to the Report.
Excerpt:
"South Africa´s sophisticated financial services system has attracted significant investment inflows from the rest of the continent. An emerging pattern appears to be that portfolio investment inflows from West Africa to South Africa are then redirected to investments in the rest of the continent, especially East Africa and Southern Africa"
The Report concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen regional integration in Africa.
Link to Full Report:
http://www.unctad.org/
