26 Apr 2015

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government will meet in Zimbabwe on Wednesday (April 29) to deliberate on the strategy and roadmap for the industrialisation of the SADC region.

A press release from SADC Secretariat stated that the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap came in the aftermath of the 34^th Ordinary Summit that was held in Zimbabwe in August 2014.

The development of the strategy and roadmap as per the release was spearheaded by the SADC Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on the regional economic integration that comprised of the ministers responsible for trade and industry, finance, economic planning and infrastructure development.

It said the strategy sought to bring about major economic and technological transformation at regional and national levels and to address, among others, challenges of unemployment, undiversified industrial structures in SADC member states and heavy dependence on exports of raw materials.

The industrialisation strategy, it further said, was aligned to the Continental Vision, Agenda 2063, a global strategy aimed at optimising the use of Africa’s resources for the benefit of all Africans.

It was expected that the Extraordinary Summit would approve the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap that will become the blue print for industrial development and enhance deeper economic integration in the Region.

The Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (2015 – 2020) which is also expected to be approved by SADC Extraordinary Council during this sitting, prioritises industrialisation during the current stage of integration in SADC.

To provide input into the development of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, the release says the Secretariat undertook extensive consultations with member states.

The extraordinary Summit is preceded by the Standing Committee of Officials and the Council of Ministers. ENDS