President Jacob Zuma concluded his working visit to the Republic of Namibia this evening, 22 April 2010), where he attended the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) conference.
The SACU conference, which brought together five heads of state and government from Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa, discussed the acceleration of regional integration and possible mechanisms to contribute to promote economic growth and development.
Part of the SACU conference agenda was for the heads of state and government to endorse the mission and vision statement of SACU. The conference also emphasised that SACU will continue playing its role as a nucleus for deeper regional integration and regional economic development with a focus on an economic community and monetary union.
In his speech to the conference, President Zuma said a new approach to regional integration should focus on building SACU and Southern African Development Community (SADC) on the basis of a common understanding of development oriented integration.
"Today, as we mark one hundred years of SACU, we must look at how to strengthen the arrangement, how to eliminate all vestiges of the colonial system of domination and dependency, and how to operate within a changing geopolitical environment."
In his closing remarks, President Zuma expressed his gratitude to the government and the people of Namibia for the role they played in hosting the centenary of the oldest Customs Union in the world.
South Africa will be the next chair of SACU.
Enquiries:
Vincent Magwenya
Cell: 072 715 0024
Issued by: The Presidency
22 April 2010
