Page 47 - 40th Summit Brochure 2020

The protocol will also strengthen the level building capacities and capabilities to ac-
of industrial development in the region and tively participate in the implementation of
facilitate the harmonisation of policies and the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and
strategies. Where Member States already have Roadmap as well as regional value chains.
such policies and strategies, these can be re- T e Directorate has continued strength-
viewed and aligned to the SADC Industriali- ening the central role of various stakehold-
sation Strategy and Roadmap. T erefore, ers including Member States, f nanciers,
SADC Member States are working towards technical partners, think tanks and acade-
ratifying the Protocol in 2020 to ensure that it mia by facilitating the establishment of the
becomes a binding legal instrument to facili- regional private sector association.
tate industrial development in the region. T e
main constraint is the slow pace of ratif cation Establishment of SADC Business Council
which requires two-thirds of SADC Member T e SADC Business Council was estab-
44 States to facilitate entry into force during 2020 lished in August 2019 during the 2019
leading to implementation. SADC Industrialisation Week in the United
Republic of Tanzania, to strengthen private
Approval of Regional Mining Vision sector engagement in advancing regional in-
In the area of mining, a major milestone was tegration. T e Business Council is expected
achieved in August 2019 when the SADC to strengthen the involvement of private
Regional Mining Vision (RMV) and Action sector in the SADC integration and devel-
Plan were approved. Implementation of this opment agenda, at regional level and na-
regional initiative is now in progress. T e tional level. T e decision to strengthen
RMV and Action Plan aim at optimising the private sector engagement in regional inte-
sustainable developmental impact of min- gration is in line with the recommendations
eral resources extraction across the region of the SADC Strategic Ministerial Retreat on
while being cognisant of the dif ering levels the “SADC We Want” held in Eswatini in
of development of mineral sectors in the March 2017. T e meeting agreed on meas-
Member States. T e RMV is anchored on ures to strengthen implementation of the in-
the tenets of the African Mining policy tegration agenda and promote inclusive
framework that was created by the African participation by citizens in regional pro-
Union in 2009 to ensure that Africa utilises grammes, noting that the lack of direct in-
its mineral resources strategically for broad- volvement by the private sector is a barrier
based, inclusive development. to economic development.
T e convening of an annual SADC Indus-
Empowering SMEs in Industrial trialisation Week is one of the many initiatives
Development to strengthen private sector involvement in re-
T e Directorate has continued strengthen- gional integration. Launched in 2016 in Eswa-
ing the role of Small and Medium Enter- tini, the industrialisation week provides an
prises (SMEs) to promote employment opportunity for Member States and the SADC
growth and national development by Secretariat to engage and network with the
preparing a Regional Framework for Sup- private sector, which is a key player in the in-
plier Development with the special focus on dustrialisation agenda.