‘Africa must boost intra trade’

AFRICAN Ministers in charge of Trade have converged in Addis Ababa to discuss ways of boosting intra Africa trade.

Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Robert Sichinga is representing the Zambian Government at the two- day meeting.

This is contained in a press statement released by first secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dorcas Chileshe.

According to Ms Chileshe, African Union Commissioner for Trade, Fatima Haram said in Addis Ababa , that Africa should to speak with one voice and address all challenges that had made it difficult to boost intra Africa trade.

Ms Haram was speaking during the official opening of the Extra Ordinary Session of the Conference of the Africa Union (AU) Ministers of Trade.

She said most African countries were battling with challenges such as youth unemployment adding that when trade increased among African countries, many jobs would be created for young people.

Ms Haram said AU Member States should be focused and ensure that they established the Continental Free Trade Area which would make it easier for them to trade among themselves without any barriers and boost economic development on the continent.

The meeting has attracted ministers in charge of trade from across the continent as well as partners such as United Nation Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Development Bank (ADB).