Trade as an engine for sustainable development?

Photo by Peter Mitchell on Unsplash 10:28 Publication - The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) regard trade as a key mechanism for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction. But does this apply in the case of East Africa? We sat down with Dr Binyam Afewerk Demena and Prof Peter van Bergeijk of the International Institute of Social Studies, co-editors of the new book 'Trade and Investment in East Africa: Prospects, Challenges and Pathways to Sustainability'. The book was published by Springer in November 2022 as part of their series Frontiers in African Business Research. The book takes stock of recent research, focusing on trade opportunities within the East African Community (EAC, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo*) and between the EAC and the EU. The emphasis is on how policies constrain competitiveness and on identifying options for policy action. The findings paint a positive picture for East Africa's trade potential, but the contributors agree that appropriate policies are needed. In addition, while trade can drive inclusive sustainable development, Prof. van Bergeijk and Dr Afewerk Demena underline the importance of combining trade with development cooperation, indicating trade as a necessary, but not a sufficient condition.