The Free Trade Area of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

In the last ten years, while GATT and (later) WTO were actively advocating the doctrine of free trade, the world witnessed unprecedented formation of regional trading blocs. Focusing on the prospects and challenges of the free trade area of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the question of regional trade integration, the book also combines in-depth theoretical and empirical analysis with leading edge discussion of institutional and policy issues from a variety of African economies. This text makes a timely contribution not only to our understanding of the prospects and challenges of regional trading arrangements in Africa but also to the paradigm of regional trade integration in developing countries. Systematically structured, with thematically linked chapters and rigorous referencing, it is an essential guide for an international audience of academics, researchers, students and practitioners in International Trade, International Economics, Development Finance and Development Economics.

Contents: Introductory overview, Victor Murinde; The COMESA free trade area: concept, challenges and opportunities, Charles L. Chanthunya; An historical background to the formation of COMESA, Siteke G. Mwale; The institutional framework of COMESA, Stephen Karangizi and Mwansa J. Musonda; Foreign direct investment, regional integration and economic growth: some lessons for Africa, Anthony Bende-Nabende; Export promotion and economic growth: evidence on African economies, Charles L. Chanthunya and Victor Murinde; The implications of WTO and GATS for the banking sector in Africa, Victor Murinde and Cillian Ryan; Globalization, economic restructuring, supply and policy responses in developing countries, Fadhil A. Mahdi; The COMESA vision and strategy for integrating trade and development regionally into the 21st century, Erastus J.O. Mwencha; References; Index.