37
The countries selected for this study include Sub-Saharan African, North African and Middle East
countries (MENA) and Asian counties. A snapshot of the economic dynamics of each of these groupings
and how they affect their exports are presented below3. The countries which form part of these 3
groupings are:
 Sub-Saharan Africa: Burkina Faso, Uganda, Cameroon and Senegal
 MENA countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen
 Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh
The rest of this chapter discusses these critical issues of trade and especially exports with a view to
addressing the questions raised above. We do so by examining first the specific conditions that prevail in
the three groups of countries referred to above. This is followed by an overview of the nature and scope of
interdependencies among the countries in each of the three groupings with particular reference to intra-
OIC trade. A review of the role of SMEs in economic development of each of regions sums up the overall
context of our investigation of the exporting activities of the OIC countries, and more specifically the
barriers that both SMEs and policy makers have to overcome to help augment the exporting capability of
these countries.
3.2. Sub-Saharan Africa OICs
This grouping includes Burkina Faso, Senegal, Cameroon and Uganda.
3.2.1. General conditions
Against the backdrop of a recession-hit global economy, growth in sub-Saharan Africa has been fairly
strong. A regional output expansion rate of 5% for 2010-11 is expected to be maintained in 2012-13 (est.
5.14%). Much of this steady state support for growth can be attributed to domestic demand supplemented
by public and private investment and generally macroeconomic policies conducive to growth (Table 3.1).
Interestingly, the best examples of growth are found in the fragile counties and the low –income
countries, whereas slow growth in the middle income countries appears to be tracking the global
economy. The latter group of countries has closer links to European markets. Other local external
conditions of political instability and drought are also having an impact on any slowdown in some
countries4. It is believed that a global slowdown would possibly reduce the regional growth rate by 1%
per annum but not necessarily derail growth and development in the region (IMF 2012). There may be
variations across countries with those whose exports are undiversified and whose policies are weak being
probably at the sharp end of any negative impact.
The Direction of Trade Statistics’ data (DOTS, IMF) indicate an increase in the annual average rate of
African5 export growth, with a flow over the last decade. In the 1980s African exports grew annually, on
average, by 2.6%, by 8% in the 90s, and by 15% in the 2000s. In spite of the increase, African exports
still represent a small share of global exports. The African aggregate share in world export was 3.4 % in
2012.
3 Much of the data and analytical output in this section is based on IMF reports (especially the ‘Regional Economic
Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa – Managing Growth in an Uncertain World’, Oct. 2012) and Comtrade
statistics data bases.
4 Cameroon belongs to the club of ‘oil exporting countries (other than Nigeria) in the region (IMF)
5 These figures include those of MENA countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.