January 1, 2021，The African Continental Free Trade Zone officially launched。According to the plan，97%of product tariffs between African countries will be gradually canceled by 2034。People generally expect，The free trade zone will bring a significant growth to the African mainland economy。According to the World Bank's 2020 research prediction，From 2035，The trade amount between African countries will increase by 81%，output will increase 450 billion US dollars。But every time I discuss the prospects of the African Free Trade Zone，People always seem to never forget to mention that trade in Africa only accounts for about 17%of Africa's total exports。Comparison of comparison，This proportion is 59%and 69%in Asia and Europe, respectively。Why does this phenomenon appear? How to improve the level of trade in the African region under the framework of the African Free Trade Zone Agreement?，African research experts give their views and suggestions。

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The head of the East Africa Office of the United Nations African Economic Commission Andrew Mold (Andrew Mold) issued a post on August 12th at the official website of the Brucks Society，The economic significance of trade in Africa is often underestimated。Correcting this misunderstanding is important，Because it will affect people's judgment on the prospects of the African Free Trade Zone。If you let "there is nothing to trade between African countries to trade" and other prejudices, prejudice occupies the dominance，Then accelerating the growth of trade in Africa will be difficult to heavy。bet365 Play online games Actually，Trade in Africa is very active，Starting from this cognition，The prospects of the African Free Trade Zone will be much better。

Mog pointed out，Trade in Africa is not only affected by statistical errors，It is also affected by a series of cognitive deviations and omissions。​​Specifically，About three reasons leading to misunderstanding people in the African continental region。

First，Africa and other regional groups are often misleading，And there is no similar comparison。Discussion on trade in the region depends on how to view "region" or "sub -region"。For example，Although Central Africa seems to be the lowest level of geographical integration in the world，But Central America、The situation in Central Asia and South Asia is not optimistic。Similarly，From the perspective of geographical sub -regions，Southern Europe's integration is not higher than East Africa，Nordic performance is only a little better than the entire Sahara Africa。

Second，Export high -value goods to destinations outside Africa，distorted the picture and scene of trade in Africa。For example，Some African countries' economies on export and export trade in Africa are significantly higher than that of other regions。In many countries，Exports in the area are also considerable compared to its economic scale。such as Zimbabwe、Botswana、Loseto and Namibia are like this，Exports in the area account for about 20%of these countries GDP。

But，The average level of trade in Africa is affected by the larger economy of Africa，Especially Egypt and Nigeria，South Africa's secondary。The reasons for their low dependence on the African market are different: Egypt and EU have a long -term market access agreement，In the past, it has been given priority to the Middle East and European Bet365 lotto review markets; Nigeria's oil and natural gas are mainly exported to Europe and Asia; South Africa has less dependence on neighboring markets in regional markets due to the historical reasons of racial isolation。So，A few but extremely important countries in African countries are extremely dependent on goods exports，and most natural resources are sold to the market outside Africa，This lower the share of exports in the African region。Angola is a good example。Although most of the oil and its by -products are exported abroad，But excluding this part of trade，Exports in Africa will account for about three -quarters of Angola's total exports。

Last，The understanding of the scale of non -formal cross -border trade is systemic.。The prevalence of informal cross -border trade means that the development of trade within the region is much higher than the data obtained from only official trade data。Although informal cross -border trade is a global phenomenon，But multiple studies indicate，Informal cross -border trade in the African continent is much more common than other areas。For example，The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and Africa Import and Export Bank 2020 discovered，"Informal cross -border trade is nearly $ 18 billion per year，accounting for more than two -thirds of the trade flow of some African countries "。and，Almost all the informal trade is in the mainland area。Some scholars have summarized existing research，It is believed that trade in Africa is systematically underestimated by 11%-40%，Some people think that this number should be higher，Even close to 50%。

This can be seen，The impression of trade downturn in Africa is wrong，Most of the African continent，Trade in the area accounts bet365 Play online games for a high proportion of its total trade.，"There is nothing to trade between African countries to trade" must be reversed，This can provide a hopeful starting point for the development of the African Free Trade Zone。Mogmod emphasized，Recently, some countries are trying to persuade African countries to sign a bilateral trade agreement with them。For example，The UK hopes to copy the economic partnership agreement type of the entire African continent，The United States is also negotiating with Kenya and Ghana for signing a free trade agreement。but，In the period of accelerated development in the African continent，Such bilateral protocols may be decentralized to the African governments' attention to the more important African free trade zone agreement。

　　Causes of trade in Africa region

Professor Evans Osabuohien, a professor of economics at Nigeria League, said in an interview with this reporter，Trade downturn between African countries is mainly related to the backward value chain system of many African countries。For example，Nigeria, which exported cocaine cocoa beans, has no trade exchanges with Ghana, which is also exported to Coco。but，If cocoa beans can be processed as a finished product，For example, chocolate or other drinks，Then there will be different brands。At this time，The trade of their respective brands can be carried out between the two countries。For this，There are good examples in Europe，Different brands of wine，They have very close trade between them。So，African countries solve this problem to process raw materials、Packaging and brand development。

Senior Researcher of Global Economic and Development Projects of Bruckins、Professor and Standing Director Landry Signé of the School of Global Management of Thunderbird believes，Too Bet365 app download long customs clearance between African countries is a major obstacle that affects trade development。According to the statistics of the World Bank，Only 4 files are required to export goods from France，and 9-10 files in Angola。​​In terms of import，France needs 4 files，The Central African Republic needs 11 files。The "African Continental Free Trade Zone Agreement" was promulgated，Companies on the entire African continent report all reports，The cargo has increased through the delay of the customs。In the past 10 years,，The average customs clearance time of exported goods increases from 8.5 days to 10.3 days，and the average customs clearance time of imported goods increases from 13.9 days to 16.8 days。

Astrid Haas, a researcher at the Institute of Infrastructure, University of Toronto, said in an interview，French infrastructure is one of the main factors that hinder trade in Africa。Although the port and road conditions have improved，But the infrastructure conditions in many parts of Africa are still very bad，Road infrastructure is undoubtedly increasing the cost of African trade。

　　Multiple measures to increase trade in Africa

Osaboshim thinks，The "African Continental Free Trade Zone Agreement" Agreement in promoting the trade in Africa cannot be underestimated，But its short -term impact is not very significant。As long as you work together and participate in multiple departments，People will see positive changes in the past two or three years。For example，Rwanda's economic growth and transformation are obvious to all，When there are more African countries with the hope of development,，The future of the entire African continent will be more bright。Osbabin expectation，The trade agreement will promote the development of the African continent，Strengthening bet365 best casino games agricultural products and the value chain of the light industry areas related to it。Use regional advantages to improve competitiveness，Realize the diversification of product supply，Export high value -added product，It can help Africa to resist future economic impact。In recent years，People have witnessed the booming service trade between African countries，These will continue to develop in depth under the trade agreement。

Herbert Krapa, deputy minister of Ghana Trading and Industry, said in an event，Cameroon、Egypt、Kenya、Mauritius、Rwanda、Tanzania、Tunisia and Ghana will take the lead in conducting trade on the African Continental Free Trade Zone Agreement，Putting the dream of integrating the African continent into practice。Eight Kingdoms will achieve diversified exports of African countries through export trade companies，Enhance the total exports，At the same time, show the advantages of the African Free Trade Zone to foreign investors。

President and Chairman of Africa Import and Export Bank, BENEDICT ORAMAH, believes，Criticism of the African Trade and the African Free Trade Zone Agreement requires traceability，Find a solution，instead of simply criticizing the situation。Specifically，In order to accelerate the trade and business in the African region，African continent should use its own resources，Promote investment and development through human capital and technical potential。He emphasizes，The industrial revolution of other countries is largely due to the young and capable labor force，So youth should also become an important force to promote the development of the African free trade zone。So，It is necessary to provide them with intellectual property protection、Reduce business cost、Formulate bet365 live casino games supportive policies to enter a single African market，Release their entrepreneurial motivation。On the other hand,，A dynamic single market will open the door to new opportunities，Increase the choice of young people，enable them to give full play to their potential。