SADC seeks to enhance intra-regional trade to boost industries, food security
PRETORIA: THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) has urged member states to accelerate regional integration efforts in order to boost intra-regional trade, strengthen industrial development, and address food security challenges affecting millions of people across the region.
The call was made by South Africa’s Deputy Director-General in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, during the opening of the SADC Committee of Senior Officials meeting held in Pretoria, South Africa today.
The meeting, chaired by Ambassador Seokolo, brought together permanent secretaries and senior officials from SADC member states.
Speaking when opening the meeting, Ambassador Seokolo encouraged member states to increase intra-SADC trade from the current level of 23 per cent in order to enhance regional economic growth.
He noted that expanding trade among member countries would help stimulate economic development and create more employment opportunities within the region.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of strengthening the industrial sector, noting that the sector is growing steadily and currently contributes about 11 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of SADC countries.
Ambassador Seokolo further underscored the need to improve infrastructure, particularly road networks, to facilitate the movement of goods and people within the region, saying the move would further enhance regional integration and trade.
He also highlighted the urgency of addressing food and nutrition security, pointing out that about 58 million people in the SADC region are currently facing food insecurity.
Meanwhile, Tanzania’s Head of Delegation to the meeting, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Said Shaib Mussa, outlined various measures being undertaken by the Sixth Phase Government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan to strengthen trade, infrastructure development and food security in collaboration with other SADC member states.
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