Johannesburg, 28 October 2013 - “Regional integration in Africa” was the theme of the press conference held on Monday, October28 in Johannesburg with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Pravin Gordhan, South African Minister of Finance; Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB); and Abdalla Hamdok, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa.
In their discussions with journalists, they addressed a range of topics relating to regional integration, especially the development of infrastructure, customs unions, trade within Africa, political will, regional inequalities, and problems in security corridors.
They acknowledged the considerable progress already made towards regional integration in Africa, while recognizing that there is still plenty to be done. The African Economic Conference currently underway in Johannesburg provides a framework for appropriate reflection that will accelerate the process of regional integration.