Southern African Leaders Meet in Madagascar for Landmark SADC Summit
Southern African leaders convened in Madagascar over the weekend for a significant SADC summit, marking the first time the island nation has hosted the event since joining the bloc 20 years ago. The summit, held under the theme “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC,” focused on key areas such as boosting manufacturing, modernizing agriculture, and promoting cleaner energy.
Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, who took over the rotating chair from Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, praised the summit as a “historic” moment and emphasized the need for urgent action to enhance industrialization. Currently, manufacturing only accounts for 11% of SADC’s GDP, with South Africa being the primary driver. The bloc aims to increase this figure to 30% by 2030, aiming to reduce dependency on imports, create employment opportunities, and strengthen regional supply chains.
Key Points Discussed at the Summit:
- Boosting manufacturing to increase its contribution to SADC’s GDP
- Modernizing agriculture practices for improved productivity
- Promoting cleaner energy sources for sustainable development
- Reducing reliance on imports and strengthening cross-border supply chains
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