ABSTRACT
Africa has long recognised the need for an economic collaboration within the continent to advance the socio-economic development of African nations and their people. This informed the adoption of the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community in 1991 (Abuja Treaty). This chapter, building on conclusions derived from prior chapters, uses the provisions on the Abuja Treaty to place a spotlight on how the creation of an African regional trade agreement area can serve as a coalition strategy for promoting the interest of African countries in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and facilitate economic collaboration for the development of pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in the continent. It also discusses how an African free-trade area can enhance the effective use of compulsory licences, the parallel importation of pharmaceuticals and the importation of generic drugs that are off-patent.
