in Ethiopia are eligible for benefits under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The major benefits of regional integration cited in the CSAR have been an increase in Ethiopia’s intra-COMESA total trade since 2000 and Ethiopian Airlines has established sufficient flights to other COMESA member states over the years. 421 However, the CSAR acknowledges that Ethiopia has not kept pace with the agreed liberalisation of trade, i.e. a zero percent tariff in order to join the Free Trade Area (FTA). The country is still not a member of the FTA arrangements. According to the CSAR, this is mainly due to the need to tread cautiously arising from fear of potential revenue losses to government from import and export tariff reductions, tough competition for most domestic industries that may result in foreclosures for some, and an influx of fake goods on the market. The CSAR states that the Ethiopian Development and Research Institute (EDRI) is currently finalising a study on COMESA-FTA membership that may serve as a final decision background document. 422 Furthermore, the CSAR notes that there are on-going processes in Ethiopia aimed at putting the required legislation in place to promote regional integration such as: a) The Regional Customs and Bond Guarantee; b) The Charter establishing the Federation of National Associations of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa; c) The Protocol for the Establishment of the Fund for Cooperation, Compensation and Development; d) The Charter on a Regime of Multinational Industrial Enterprises (not ratified); and, e) The Charter for the establishment of a Metallurgical Technology Centre (MTC) (not ratified). II. Findings of the CRM 423 The CRM takes the view that, given the current global economic crisis, adversely affecting the African continent, there is urgent need to re-examine existing approaches to international development. One important response for Africa is deeper regional integration which would address long-standing structural weaknesses of African economies. As the 2009 UNCTAD Annual Report on Africa30 notes, regional integration is essential for sustained development on the continent, especially within the context of the current crisis. 424 Commendably, Ethiopia attaches great importance to regional integration which government regards as a high priority issue. In this respect, the GoE has put in place a number of measures aimed at promoting regional integration as well as international trade. 30 UNCTAD (2009), Strengthening Regional Economic Integration for Africa’s Development. - 171 -