The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Southern Africa regional director Said Adejumobi says there is need for southern African countries to start working together and open up national borders for trade and investments to flourish.
He was speaking ahead of the Southern Africa Regional Integration Stakeholder Forum which Malawi hosted from June 11-13 in Lilongwe.
Adejumobi stated: “As regional integration seeks to open up national borders for trade and investments, the private sector should position itself as a key actor and beneficiary of the process.”
He further observed that the opening of the borders would create more jobs which in return would help governments raise revenue, especially through increased taxation, which would lead to improved living standards for citizens.
The Forum was attended by high-level government officials, especially from trade and industry departments, representatives of the private sector in Southern Africa, regional financial institutions including development banks.
The Southern Africa Regional Integration Stakeholder Forum was held on the theme ‘The Private Sector and Regional Integration in Southern Africa: Accelerating Opportunities for Investment and Growth’.
