Most economic experts cite that regional integration allows disadvantaged countries to realize economies of scale, compete on a broader (often global) platform and increase overall economic efficiency. Alassane D. Ouattara the Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund states that regional integration 'enables participating countries to pool their resources and avail themselves of regional institutional and human resources, in order to attain a level of technical and administrative competence that would not be possible on an individual basis'.
