Africa, although rich in mineral resources, has the lowest level of intra-regional trade, according to the World Economic Forum. Fayelle Ouane, an entrepreneurship advocate and co-founder of Suguba, a regional platform that fosters entrepreneurship and regional integration in West Africa, says this is actually worse in West Africa, where the majority of Francophone countries are located. She takes a look at entrepreneurship’s key trends and opportunities in the region.
In 2015, only about 12% of exports from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) went to member countries, 6% to other African countries and 80% outside of Africa. The trend is even more pronounced in Central Africa, which is predominantly Francophone. In the same year, only 1.5% of exports went to the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
