Preparing for Swaziland

http://sadcsummit.org/

In pursuit of the regional agenda, SADC member states have since 1992 signed 27 protocols and a number of declarations, charters and memoranda of understanding on various matters, ranging from mining, trade, finance and investment to illicit drugs, forest

THE Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) has made great strides since its inception 36 years ago.

(Pic: Simon Shabangu)  

PROUD: SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax making her submission at the summit. SADC member states have a number of achievements and benefits of regional integration.

Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, SADC Executive Secretary said the region has transformed into a cohesive community, which is determined to deliver a better standard of living for the people of the region.

In pursuit of the regional agenda, SADC member states have since 1992 signed 27 protocols and a number of declarations, charters and memoranda of understanding on various matters, ranging from mining, trade, finance and investment to illicit drugs, forestry and shared water resources, as well as the empowerment of women and young people.

This is contained in the ‘SADC @35 success stories, Volume 1, 2015’.

“Out of the 27 protocols, 24 have come into force so far after being ratified by two-thirds of the signatory member states. Although we still have a long way to go, we believe that these and other initiatives have improved the lives of the SADC citizens. For example, the One-Stop Border post initiative has improved a viable development in eliminating trade barriers through reduction of clearance time and cost, with benefits extending to consumers further afield. Similarly, development corridors have helped boost industrial growth, especially in landlocked countries, by providing cheaper alternative transport routes to seaports,” Tax said.
The document further states that the Maputo Development Corridor has paved the way for growth.
In 1996, the Mozambican and South African governments signed an agreement establishing the Maputo Development Corridor, which is a network of roads, railway transport and logistics facilities connecting the port of Maputo to South Africa and Swaziland.
“The corridor provides more than just a trade route, it drives business growth. It aligns with SADC’s Spatial Development Initiatives, a strategy to connect industries and landlocked countries to seaports and develop the inherent natural endowments of the corridors. It is the most successful development corridor in SADC having attractive more than E68 billion (US$5 billion) in investment since its inception’’.
It further states that development corridors support economic integration, anchor spatial development, help open up markets and promote increased trade and investmen.

QUOTE fromSWAZI OBSERVER 24 Aug 2016,   Stories by Gugu Simelane, Mbabane