In ensuring the success and immediacy of our own integration we can learn from the experiences of others. The integration of Europe was driven predominantly by the private sector. We did not see mass public demonstrations for unity and integration in Europe. What we saw was the consolidation of European heavy industry though economic co-operation that eventually led to political integration.
My own experience as a businessman is similarly clear cut. When I began an African telecoms operator, Celtel, we had no desire to build a successful company in one country. We knew that the only way to ensure our success was through procurement power and access to sizeable markets achieved through scale. And our success was unprecedented.
