Call to improve border trade

Johannesburg - South Africa and other African nations must improve cross-border trade if they are to reach their economic potential, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Monday.

"Africa's full economic potential will remain unfulfilled unless we address the challenges of inadequate infrastructure," Davies said.

The minister said other challenges included small and fragmented markets between African nations, "all of which are responsible for the low levels of intra-Africa trade".

Davies was speaking at the Southern African Trade Facilitation Conference, in Kempton Park.

He said the continent had a great deal of potential as it was the second fastest growing region in the world economically, had a young population, and a growing middle class with purchasing power.

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