15 Mar 2016

Chairperson of SADC Ministerial Taskforce on Regional Economic Integration says SADC has adopted an industrialisation strategy and roadmap that has a clear vision agenda.

Such an adoption would help transform regional economies, enhance economic growth, create empowerment and leverage on the region’s diverse resources. 

Speaking at the SADC Meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration in Gaborone on Sunday March 13, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Vincent Seretse said the strategy had set out a pathway for the SADC region to rise up and increase its contribution to global trade.

Mr Seretse said its significance required visionary leadership and compelled SADC to remain seized with the process to ensure implementation for results. 

He noted that the April 2015 Extra-Ordinary Summit in Zimbabwe expediently expanded the taskforce to include ministers responsible for infrastructure.

This, the minister said, responded favourably to the implementation requirements of the strategy given the importance of infrastructure to industrial development.  

He noted that it was vital to fast-track implementation of the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan. 

However, he said, there was a need to emphasise on effective coordination among members and with other key stakeholders, who remain central to successful implementation of the strategy.      

Meanwhile, Minister Seretse cautioned that SADC region needs to be proactive in addressing the water energy crisis facing the region as those challenges might frustrate efforts towards industrialisation. 

The SADC executive secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence-Tax said the secretariat was directed to develop an action plan, with a view to effectively drive industrialisation in the SADC region. 

The process made will be presented during the meeting and a finalised draft SADC Trade Facilitation Programme for consideration. 

The programme, she said, had identified trade facilitation activities essential in facilitating easy movement of goods, while reducing the cost of doing business in the region. Ends