It has been realised that informal cross border trade (ICBT) places a strong emphasis on a market-led strategy of regional integration. Thus, there has been a widespread operation of informal cross-informal trading activities, which have succeeded in effecting extensive market integration where government-led initiatives have failed. Research has shown that informal cross border trading activities have cushioned the effects of the financial crisis and the food crisis on African countries.

Research has indicated that ICBT is an integral, yet unrecognized, component of the economy of Southern Africa. The reason that these ICBT activities are not recognised could be because they move small amounts of goods from country to country, often trading in informal sector markets.