Africa: Africa told to hasten economic integration

African leaders have been asked to speed up regional economic integration so the continent can play its rightful role in the global economy. African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Erastus Mwencha said African states must pay greater attention to economic integration. 'By fostering strong regional trading blocs, African economies could accelerate diversification, generate economies of scale, and mitigate the fallout from any global economic shocks,' he said.