In Davos at the World Economic Forum, South African President Jacob Zuma tried to dissipate fears that Africa as a whole is unsafe for doing business, DW reports.

Africa is relatively stable, Zuma said. “We believe that over the years, we have reduced the areas of conflict in the continent. It’s unlike what it was before.”

Zuma said African countries should focus on attracting private investors, developing infrastructure and reducing barriers to trade among African countries. “If we don’t have intra-African trade, if we don’t soften our borders, if we don’t increase the economy among ourselves, we are not going to succeed,” Zuma said.

Since the fall of former Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi, Boko Haram has undermined security in Africa, Zuma said. The African Union is doing its best to solve that.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said, “The problems are there, but they should not derail Africa’s journey to development and stability.”

With elections coming up at home, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and most of his ministers were not at the World Economic Forum, DW reported.

But Oscar Onyema, head of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, talked about security, according to DW.

“Most of the challenges that we are facing are quite isolated, in isolated pockets,” Onyema said. “And those pockets are not necessarily the geographies that drive African economy.”