via Industrialisation gets Sadc nod | The Herald April 30, 2015
The Sadc Extraordinary Summit yesterday adopted the region’s Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap anchored on competitiveness and regional integration to be implemented over three phases covering 2015 to 2063.The Extraordinary Summit, that drew 10 Heads of State and Government and a number of representatives, reaffirmed the importance of industrial development in poverty alleviation and the economic emancipation of the people of the region.
This was contained in a Sadc Extraordinary Summit communiqué read to journalists after the meeting by the bloc’s Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax.
The industrial strategy, according to the communiqué, was aligned to the continental vision, Agenda 2063, a pro-people strategy aimed at optimising the use of Africa’s resources for the benefit of its people that has an uncanny resemblance to Zim-Asset
“Summit underscored the critical importance of infrastructure in support of industrialisation and the need to explore appropriate funding mechanisms to support the implementation of the Industrialisation Strategy.
“Summit directed the Secretariat to finalise the development of a costed Action Plan to facilitate the urgent implementation of the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap,” read the communiqué.
The Summit directed the Industrialisation Strategy be accorded top priority in the implementation of the revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (2015 to 2020).
“Summit approved the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (2015-2020) that will guide the implementation of Sadc programmes in the next five years, with four major priority areas, namely Industrial Development and Market Integration,
Infrastructure in Support of Regional Integration, Peace and Security Cooperation as a prerequisite or regional integration and Special Programmes of regional dimension,” the communique read.
The Summit noted progress on the Comesa, East African Community (EAC) and Sadc Tripartite initiative and the launch of the Tripartite Free Trade Area by the Tripartite Summit, which is scheduled to take place in June 2015.
“Summit noted progress on the Tripartite Industrialisation pillar and urged Sadc, Comesa and EAC to urgently finalise the roadmap and programme of work on Industrialisation,” Dr Tax said while reading the communiqué.
Summit also conveyed condolences to former Secretary General of the then Organisation of African Unity Liberation Committee, and former Tanzanian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brigadier General Hashim Mbita, who died last Sunday.
South African President Jacob Zuma briefed the Summit on the recent xenophobic attacks against foreign citizens that occurred in Durban and Johannesburg.
“While condemning the attacks, Summit commended the measures that the Government of South Africa has put in place and resolved to work together to deal with the situation and ensure it does not reoccur,” read the communiqué.
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