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SADC Home and Away Roaming
Mobile network operators from nine SADC Member States are implementing the
SADC Home and Away Roaming (SHAR) project using the Roam Like at Home
(RLAH) principle. This is in line with the November 2014 decision of Ministers
responsible for Information and Communication Technology to adopt the RLAH
regime by regulating both the wholesale and retail roaming tariff for six years.

Tripartite Transport Facilitation
Achievements since the launch of the Tripartite Transport and
Transit Facilitation Programme (TTTFP) covering COMESA, EAC
and SADC include validation of a Vehicle Load Management
Agreement; Multilateral Cross Border Road Transport Agreement;
national and regional sensitisation programmes to identify technical
assistance required in 17 of the 21 Member/ Partner States; and
facilitation of the Cross Border Road Transport Regulators Forum.

Trade Facilitation for SMEs
The SADC Trade Facilitation Programme was approved in July 2018 to support
implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap. Achievements on
customs and trade facilitation include the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) Framework that
aims to reduce barriers to trade by simplifying the customs procedures and processes, and
lowering transaction costs associated with formal trade in support of small traders. In the
area of trade and market integration, the first round of negotiations was completed in four 73
of the six priority sectors identified in the Protocol on Trade in Services – communication,
finance, tourism and transport services.

Financial Inclusion for SMEs
The Implementation Plan for the SADC Financial Inclusion Strategy and Small to
Medium Enterprises (SME) Access to Finance was approved in July 2018, assisting
Member States to develop their own strategies and programmes aimed at empowering
SMEs, youth and women to participate and contribute to economic activity.

2018-2019
The 38 SADC Summit was held in Windhoek, Namibia on 17-18 August
th
2018,hosted and chaired by President Hage Gottfried Geingob, with the
theme of Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth
Empowerment for Sustainable Development.
Youth Empowerment
In addressing the Summit theme, the focus was on youth to take an active role in advancing
and shaping the regional integration agenda. Various platforms have been created to capture
the voices of the youth, including active participation at the Southern Africa Internet
Governance Forum in Durban, South Africa in November 2018. A SADC Youth Forum
was initiated as an official structure in December 2018, following youth deliberations on
infrastructure development and the productive sectors for employment
creation. Youth empowerment has been mainstreamed in the SADC
agenda with a long-term perspective and enabling framework.