Edited: 16 August: South African President, President Cyril Ramaphosa, arrived in Antananarivo, Madagascar, yesterday for the Southern African Development Community’s 45th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.#
The summit, held under the theme ‘Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC’ is convened in terms of Article 10 of the SADC Treaty. It provides policy direction of SADC and is informed by reports and recommendations from the Council of Ministers and the Organ Troika Summit which affect the SADC region.
“Leaders will focus on accelerating regional integration through key pillars. These are: strengthening industrial capacity and regional value chains, modernising agriculture, and promoting an inclusive energy transition. The se pillars are aimed at building a resilient, sustainable, and cohesive SADC region,” the Presidency said.
The summit is expected to: Review progress on the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020 – 2030. Plus it will consider a report from the Chairperson of the the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.Review achievements under the 44th Summit theme – ‘Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC’.
During the summit the following will be signed: SADC Protocol on Industry (2019);SADC Protocol on Statistics (2021); Declaration on the Protection of Persons with Albinism (2024; and Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on Tourism Development (2019).
South Africa will be elected as the incoming Chair of SADC and host the 46th summit in August next year – nearly a decade after the country’s first one.
Presidency said the Summit is of particular strategic importance for South Africa. “Being the fourth time of joining the SADC Summit Troika, South Africa’s Chairship in 2026 will provide a unique opportunity for the country to assume a strategic leadership role in the region – nine years after the previous tenure as Chairperson in 2017,” the Presidency said – Info source: SAnews
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