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Regional Mining Vision Policy
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The SADC Regional Mining Vision Policy and Action Plan was approved in 2019 with
the aim of optimising the sustainable developmental impact of mineral resources extrac-
tion across the region. The policy is in implementation and is expected to support Member
States in gaining more from their natural resources.
Small and Medium Enterprises Development
The SADC Secretariat has continued to support the role of Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) to facilitate employment growth and national development and has produced a
Regional Framework for Supplier Development. This has a special focus on building ca-
pacities and capabilities of SMEs to participate in the implementation of the Industrial-
isation Strategy and regional value chains.
Trade and Economic Liberalisation
Major achievements are the adoption of the SADC Protocol on Trade, launch
of the Free Trade Area, and other milestones shown below.
SADC Protocol on Trade
The progression towards the free movement of goods and services across the region was
laid out in 1996 when the SADC Protocol on Trade was signed by Member States. The
Protocol, which entered into force in 2001, aims to liberalise intra-regional trade by cre-
ating mutually beneficial trade arrangements, thereby improving investment and produc-
tivity in the region, as well as eliminating barriers to trade and easing customs procedures.
Launch of the Free Trade Area
The SADC Protocol on Trade paved the way for the historic launch of the SADC Free Trade
Area (FTA) in August 2008. A total of 13 SADC Member States are implementing their ob-
ligations under the FTA. These are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Madagascar,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zim-
babwe. The remaining three countries of Angola, Comoros and Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) are yet to join the FTA, and have indicated their interest to do so once they
have achieved the right conditions. Except for the three Member States, all parties are on
course to fulfilling the provisions of the SADC Protocol on Trade. This is an important
outcome as it promotes deeper market and trade integration within the region.
Increase in Intra-SADC Trade
The SADC FTA has led to an increase in intra-regional trade within SADC by easing and
promoting the smooth movement of goods and services across southern Africa. At its in-
ception in 1980, intra-SADC trade was a mere five percent. However, the coming in of
the FTA in 2008 has seen an increase in intra-SADC trade from 16.3 percent in 2008 to
21.6 percent in 2016. Intra-SADC trade slowed down to 20.0 percent in 2017 and again
to 19.3 percent in 2018. Although intra-SADC trade is significantly less compared to other
regions, momentum has been created towards improving intra-SADC trade. As more
countries join the FTA, intra-SADC trade is also expected to increase, allowing the region
to trade more with itself than it does with others.
Minimum conditions for the FTA were achieved in 2008, with 85 percent of tariffs
on goods zero-rated by all participating countries. The 2012 Audit confirmed that intra-
SADC trade substantially increased following the implementation of the SADC Protocol