Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro left the country on August 14 to attend the 42nd Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit that is set to take place on August 17 and 18 to discuss breaking down of trade barriers in the region, among others.
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Aug. 15, 2022
STAFF REPORTER
2 min read
Majoro jets off to crucial SADC Summit in Kinshasa
Dr Moeketsi Majoro left Lesotho to attend 42nd SADC Summit in Kinshasa
The breaking down of trade barriers will focus on how member states can take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFCA).
The Lesotho’s premier will be part of the 16-member states of the regional bloc who will converge in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic (DRC) through physical mode under the theme “Promoting industrialisation through, agro-processing, mineral beneficiation, and regional value chains for inclusive and resilient economic growth”.
The theme, according to the statement released by SADC Secretariat in Botswana for the Summit is an endeavour to strengthen implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, which seeks to further deepen Southern Africa regional integration and foster development in support to the pillar for Industrial Development and Market Integration.
The Summit will review progress on Regional Integration in line with SADC’s aspirations as outlined in the RISDP 2020-2030 and Vision 2050, which envisage a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, middle-to high-income industrialised Region where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice, and freedom.
The Summit is preceded by a meeting of Standing Committee of Senior Officials and Finance Committee meetings on August 9 – 11, a meeting of SADC Council of Ministers on August 13 – 14 and SADC Organ Troika Summit on August 16.
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Apart from discussing trade barriers in the region, the summit will also deliberate on how natural resources can propel southern Africa’s growth, realising that the region is endowed with vast natural resources that include fertile soils, forests, wildlife and minerals such as gold, diamonds and coal.
There will be assessment of implementation of industrialisation policies on various projects, programmes and activities on industrialisation, as contained in the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063, as well as the Protocol Industry.
The agenda also include agriculture and food security with focus on measures to improve food security in the region, in particular how to improve production, productivity, competitiveness and trade in the agricultural sector.
The prevailing peace and security situation in southern Africa will also be high on the agenda, especially the regional intervention to address instability in northern Mozambique, particularly the Cabo Delgado Province, the situation in eastern DRC where a rebel group known as M23 has resumed its terrorist attacks, thwarting terrorism and prevention of conflicts, whether national, regional or global caused by various factors that differ from one country to another and region to region, including political, socio-economic and environmental.
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