The seventh edition of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Industrialization Week commenced on Sunday in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, with a focus on accelerating the region’s industrialization.
This event, the largest public-private engagement platform in the region, is dedicated to promoting industrialization and fostering intra-African trade and investment. Industry stakeholders from all 16 SADC member states, including Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are participating.
The Industrialization Week precedes the 44th Ordinary SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, scheduled for August 17 in Zimbabwe.
At the media launch of the SADC Industrialization Week, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Publicity, Information and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, highlighted the event’s role in showcasing investment opportunities across various value chains and facilitating networking among industry stakeholders.
“Let’s seize this opportunity to forge partnerships, exchange ideas, and chart the course towards a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future for the SADC region,” Muswere stated.
Muswere noted that the annual event provides a platform for different sectors to display their potential and encourage collaboration. This year’s key focus areas include mineral beneficiation, agro-processing, financial services, fast-moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure development, and women and youth entrepreneurship.
Angele Makombo N’tumba, SADC’s Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, commended the media for their role in enhancing public understanding of the regional industrialization agenda.
“Together, we can highlight the transformative power of industrialization and its role in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future for our region,” she told the press.
The week-long event is hosted by the SADC Secretariat, in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe, the SADC Business Council, and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries.
