President Jacob Zuma says well-functioning infrastructure is critical for Africa to achieve its full potential in terms of economic growth.

The African Union (AU) has identified meeting the demand for infrastructure as a priority. African leaders from 54 countries met at the AU Summit in Ethiopia to discuss challenges facing the continent as well as what can be done to achieve the goal of turning Africa into the world’s 3^rd largest economy in the coming years.

“We need to create the infrastructure, in every respect, roads and rail and ICT so that we are connected and that when we put our economies together, there is an easy flow of goods within the continent, ”Zuma told SAnews.gov.za at the summit.

Zuma says the majority of the infrastructure projects the AU will be embarking on have already been funded.

The president also views agriculture and an end to conflicts as critical to Africa achieving its full potential.