South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, has calls for more regional trade cooperation
Namibian Broadcasting Corporation
South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, has calls for more regional trade cooperation
19 June 2006
The South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, has called for more regional trade cooperations among African states.
Mphlwa, guest speaker on Saturday night at the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gala Dinner, said even South African businesses that were previously cautious about trading with other African states were increasingly trading with continent partners.
The South African minister says since his countrys democratic change, its trade within the continent had grown tremendously, with exports amounting to five billion rand in 1991 and 43 billion rand in 2002. South African exports to Africa now accounted for 15 to 19 percent of total exports, exceeding those to the USA and many European coutries.
Mpahlwa, however, noted that this growing trend had sparked mixed reactions, which prompted concerns about whether or not South Africa was becoming new colonial power.We believe we all stand to lose if our growth is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity. SAs economic policy for Africa is therefore fundamental, developmental in nature and is rooted within our foreign policy framework of NEPAD. The policy premised on the necessity to promote intra-Africa trade and to deepen regional economic integration.
Mpahlwa said South Africa`s economy was linked to that of Southern Africa and her own success was linked to the economic recovery of the continent through NEPAD.
