Despite concerted efforts, Africa's regional integration process has encountered delays. Since the third stage of the Abuja Treaty in 2008, piecemeal progress has been observed. It therefore begs a difficult but relevant question: why is the regional integration process stalling? The conventional answer lies in challenges such as inadequate financial resources and infrastructure for trade among others. However, an approach is proposed to refocus regional integration on resource-based industrialization. The level of industrialization is examined in Africa using Balassa's Revealed Comparative Advantage Indexes based on the BACI dataset. Further, an input-output table analysis on production of Kenya's trade in intermediate inputs is done based on the GTAP 8 dataset. The analysis finds that while the level of industrialization is heterogeneous among African economies, the overall level is low. Also, in the case of Kenya and five regions in Africa, imported intermediate was found to be a critical input to production, lending support to the importance of trade facilitation measures in ensuring timely and cost-effective sourcing of inputs.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of trade policy pertaining to imported processed food on poorer health outcomes of people’s in the Pacific island countries. Design/methodology/approach Using an extended gravity model, the paper adopts the OLS time varying importer/exporter effects method and a Pseudo Poisson maximum likelihood estimator on a cross-sectional panel data set of 215 countries and territories. The estimation procedure controlled for 11 Pacific island countries between 2003 and 2013. Findings The empirical findings revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between trade liberalisation and increased processed food imports in the Pacific island countries. The findings also reveal that the access ratio (kg/person) to selected imported processed food high in salt to Pacific island countries has increased significantly over time. Originality/value While much of the trade literature reveals positive impact of trade on the prosperity of nations, this study makes a new contribution in terms of supporting a negative impact of trade liberalisation policy on people’s health in small island developing states.

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This exploratory study aims to identify the main characteristics and relationships between artificial intelligence (AI) and broadband development in Asia and the Pacific. Broadband networks are the foundation and prerequisite for the development of AI. But what types of broadband networks would be conducive are not adequately discussed so far. Furthermore, in addition to broadband networks, other factors, such as income level, broadband quality, and investment, are expected to influence the uptake of AI in the region. The findings are synthesized into a set of policy recommendations at the end of the article, which highlights the need for regional cooperation through an initiative, such as the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS).