JOHANNESBURG, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Business leaders from Kenya and South Africa have called for stronger cooperation between Africa's two economic powerhouses, deeper regional integration, and increased intra-African trade.
The calls were made on Thursday during the Kenya-South Africa Business Forum in Johannesburg, held as part of Kenyan President William Ruto's state visit to South Africa.
Speaking at the forum, Standard Bank Group Chief Executive Officer Sim Tshabalala said Kenya and South Africa occupy strategic positions in Africa's most dynamic economic regions, allowing them to play a leading role in advancing continental integration and economic growth.
"Kenya is at the heart of the East African Community, one of Africa's most dynamic regional blocs, connecting trade, infrastructure, and finance across East Africa. South Africa plays an equally central role in Southern Africa," Tshabalala said.
He emphasized that the partnership between the two countries is critical to Africa's economic development. Through their links within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Kenya and South Africa can help create a direct economic corridor connecting East and Southern Africa.
"What makes this partnership especially powerful is that the two countries are not operating in separate spheres. They come together through COMESA, creating a direct economic corridor that links East Africa and the Southern African Development Community region," he said.
According to Tshabalala, Africa has significant untapped potential to expand trade within the continent and unlock stronger economic growth.
"We have a lot of room to expand intra-African trade and benefit from the resulting economic growth," he said.
Tshabalala urged African countries to adopt a continent-wide customs processing system and introduce visa-free travel for business leaders, saying such measures would accelerate regional integration and boost trade across the continent.
Speaking at the forum, Kenya Private Sector Alliance Chairman Jaswinder Bedi echoed the call for faster regional integration, urging governments to turn political commitments into tangible economic outcomes.
"Kenya and South Africa need to demonstrate that continental integration is not just a political aspiration, but a commercial reality," Bedi said.
Bedi added that businesses across Africa are united in their desire to see regional integration initiatives implemented more rapidly.
"There is a unified voice among businesses that integration must be accelerated. Regional integration is something we cannot ignore and should fast-track," he said.
Bedi also called on both governments to implement existing agreements and create a more conducive environment for business.
"We call on both governments to operationalize agreements that have already been signed and concluded. We also urge them to implement laws and policies that make it easier to do business," he said.
On Thursday, Ruto held bilateral talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade, investment, and regional integration, while supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. ■