LUSAKA, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu said the time has come for African countries to enhance efforts aimed at promoting intra-Africa trade in order to stir economic growth and transformation.

In remarks delivered when Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Wamkele Mene paid a courtesy call on him at State House on Wednesday, the Zambian leader said Zambia will benefit from the continental free trading arrangement because it would be easier for the country to trade with other African countries, according to a release.

He expressed gratitude that the current African leaders were taking up the responsibility of actualizing the intra-Africa trade which pan-Africanists envisaged.

On his part, Mene said Africa has a deficit of industries hence the need for the free trade area to promote industrialization.

He said small and medium enterprises needed to be boosted through financial support, adding that about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars have been secured to support the small businesses so that they could expand.

"We are collaborating with the United Nations Development Program to make sure this support is accessible to all segments of society. Or countries facing fiscal challenges and are not able to support their small businesses, we will be able to access funds from African Export-Import Bank under the trade fund facility to assist them," he said. Enditem

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