Trade liberalization, investment and economic integration in African Regional Economic Communities towards the African Common Market

This report reviews the progress in African regional integration processes, suggesting an option for revising the timeframe for accelerating continental integration. Several recommendations related to accelerating integration; the need for a development-driven regional integration; the focus on export value addition and diversification in manufactured goods and services; and, enhancing competition policy and attracting more foreign and domestic investment have been made.This report concludes that there is an urgent need to expand integration with regards to international trade.