President Jacob Zuma successfully led a South African delegation to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, which took place today, Wednesday, 29 April 2015, in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The Extra-Ordinary SADC Summit considered the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap and the revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (2015-2020) as mandated at the 34th Ordinary SADC Summit held in August 2014, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Consequently, the SADC Heads of State and Government approved these two blueprint documents on regional economic integration and industrialisation during the Extra-Ordinary Summit.
The SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap is anchored on three pillars, i.e. industrialisation, competitiveness and regional integration, and premised on a three-phase long perspective covering 2015-2063. The Industrialisation Strategy is thus aligned to the African Union's Agenda 2063.
The Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2015-2020) will guide the implementation of SADC programmes in the next five years and will focus on four priority areas, namely, industrial development and market integration; infrastructure in support of regional integration, peace and securiy cooperation, and special programmes of a regional dimension.
President Zuma stated that the discussions at the Summit were cordial and that the aforementioned documents were approved by consensus.
"As one of the largest economies in the region, South Africa has a role to play in the implementation of the SADC industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, which aims to better coordinate economic relations in the region. Regional integration and industrialisation must benefit all citizens of SADC," said President Zuma.
President Zuma also mentioned the importance of mineral beneficiation which would lead to job creation and enhance economic development in the region.
"infrastructure development is also an important part of industrialisation and contributes to regional integration. SADC is currently integrating with other two regional blocs, i.e COMESA and EAC. Thus, SADC has indeed become better coordinated," said President Zuma.
In conclusion, President Zuma stated that South Africa requested to brief the Summit on the recent attacks against foreign nationals in certain parts of South Africa.
"South Africa was given an opportunity to brief the Summit and explain the causes of the attacks, as well as the South African Government's efforts to arrest the situation to prevent further loss of life," said President Zuma.
While condemning the attacks, the Summit commended South Africa for the measures put in place to address the attacks and resolved to work together to deal with the situation and ensure that it does not occur again.
President Zuma was accompanied by Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Mr Nhlanhla Nene, Minister of Finance.
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