Arab states are failing to capitalize on sub-Saharan Africa trade estimated at 63 billion

Trade exchanges between Arab states and Sub-saharan Africa remain below expectations, accounting for between 7 % and 8 % in their respective overall transactions.

A study presented during the 4th Afro-Arab fair held lately in Dakar said Arab exports to Sub-Saharan African countries progressed from 1.12 % in 1990 to 2.47 % in 1997.

Trade exchanges between the two groups reached in 1997

$ 4.2 billion, compared to $ 33 bln posted during the same period in transactions between Africa and the European Union and $ 92 billion in trade exchanges between the Arab states and EU, the source added, calling for the increase of economic cooperation between the Arab world and Africa.

An executive at the International Trade Center estimates the economic and trade potential between Arab states and Sub-Saharan Africa at $ 63 billion.