“The growth of intra-African trade would lay the foundations for a stronger and more sustainable economic growth,” he said.

The Assembly's meeting was on the theme “Boosting Intra-African Trade”.

He welcomed an arrangement between the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to form a free trade area. He also called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) to emulate the concept.

Mr. Ping urged AU member-states not to relent in their investments in the agricultural sector and called for the adoption of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA).

He also called for increased action to ensure food self-sufficiency on the continent, and expressed satisfaction with what he described as the “growing success” of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), a NEPAD initiative to help African countries reach a higher path of economic growth through agriculture-led development.

GNA

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• 04/02/2012 00:00 - Parliament to consider two subsidiary loan agreements
• 04/02/2012 00:00 - Prices of foodstuffs in Bolgatanga increases

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