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First Stage of the SADC Free Trade Area Launched
The first stage of the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) was launched on 1 September 2000,
following the ratification of the Trade Protocol by two-thirds of Member States and entry
into force on 25 January 2000. This is expected to increase intra-regional trade through
removal of restrictions that block entry or increase the cost of doing business in the region.
However the process has several stages. Negotiations among Member States have focused
on tariff reduction schedules, rules of origin, elimination of non-tariff barriers, customs
and trade documentation and clearance procedures, special agreement on sugar, and
dispute settlement mechanisms. The implementation process has now begun for a phased
reduction of tariffs and elimination of non-tariff barriers, and this is expected to take eight
years to complete.

State of the Environment Zambezi Basin 2000
The first assessment of a single ecosystem in the region was published by SADC and partners
in 2000, in a break from the traditional approach to focus on national boundaries, natural
resources or sectors. The report broke new ground in presenting data on the shared natural
resources and the complex human and ecological processes in SADC’s most-shared river
basin, and was produced in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, SARDC’s
Musokotwane Environment Resource Centre for Southern Africa, Zambezi River Authority
and IUCN-The World Conservation Union. State of the Environment Zambezi Basin 2000 /
Estado do Ambiente na Bacia do Zambezi 2000 was published in two languages, with a Foreword
by the SADC Chairperson, President Joaquim Alberto Chissano of Mozambique.
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Culture and Media in Community Building
A Report on the strategic role of culture in regional integration, prepared for the SADC
Sector on Culture, Information and Sport for an inter-ministerial conference in November
2000, made proposals on how to harness culture for economic growth through recognising
the culture sector as a viable business, forging strong links with private sector, and
developing regional markets for arts and cultural products. The report advises to anchor
this on regional festivals such as those held in various Member States for music, dance,
theatre, art and crafts, and calls for institutional mechanisms to establish the culture
industry as a business industry capable of employing youth and generating income.
National News Agencies from SADC Member States established the Southern
African News Agencies Pool (SANAPOOL) in March 2001 through which they would
exchange news items that could also be collated and sold to other users through a regional
pool centre, hosted by the Mozambique News Agency, as initiated by the SADC Sector
on Culture, Information and Sport and intended to operate on a commercial basis,
incorporating news from the SADC Secretariat and the Southern African Broadcasting
Association (SABA), among others.