| Abstract: | The term 'African Renaissance' captures a vision of a future for the continent characterized by economic prosperity and political stability. In South Africa, it is likely to become one of the government's most important external policies in the next millennium. Steps have been taken toward achieving this vision within the SADC. Current trade patterns in the southern African region demonstrate that much has to change if a vision of a prosperous continent is to become a reality. While the economies of the region are relatively open, the current volume of intraregional trade as a proportion of total trade is very small and is only significant among the countries of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). In general, intra-SADC trade is characterized by unprocessed primary commodities going to South Africa and Zimbabwe, and manufactured goods going in the other direction. The adoption of a Trade and Development Protocol by the SADC countries in 1996 has set a framework for the pursuit of trade integration. Regional cooperation can overcome many of the supply-side constraints facing the region and allows for greater specialization than would be feasible in isolated domestic markets. Bibliogr., sum. |
AfricaBib 
Periodical article
Leiden University catalogue
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