Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Ruffley and Andrew Mitchell

Wednesday 17th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con)]

10. What the development outcomes were of the G20 summit in Seoul; and if he will make a statement.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Andrew Mitchell)]

G20 leaders endorsed the Seoul development consensus on shared growth and agreed to a multi-year plan to tackle the obstacles to growth in poor countries. As part of this plan, leaders also agreed to take measures to increase trade within Africa.

[Mr Ruffley]

At the summit, the Government rightly stressed the need for a free trade area for Africa. At present, only 10% of trade in Africa is between African countries. Does the Secretary of State agree that knocking down the trade walls between African countries will deliver economic benefits far outstripping the amount of aid that developed countries can give?

[Mr Mitchell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to make the point about the importance of having a pan-African free trade area—one of the four specific areas championed by the Prime Minister at the G20 summit in Seoul. Knocking down those trade walls, having one-stop border posts and promoting trade within Africa is the key area in helping people to lift themselves out of poverty throughout Africa.