MEDIA RELEASE
"The time has come for SADC to seek innovative ways to mobilise and generate resources and thereby lessen dependency in its endeavours to fast track economic regional integration and development, while consolidating the political gains achieved so far over the years". These sentiments were expressed by the Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Angola Honourable Dr. George Rebelo Pinto Chikoti during a courtesy call on him by the SADC Executive Secretary H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax in Luanda on January 13th 2014.
The two leaders agreed that the even though SADC has achieved tremendous successes politically, with stability in the region being the cornerstone of regional integration, there is potential for improvement social-economically. In this regard, they reiterated the need to reorient SADC focus on economic integration and development while upholding peace, security and political stability as important pillars to regional integration.
They furthermore called on the region to embark upon innovative ways to mobilise resources for implementing the SADC regional integration agenda. They reiterated the need for the region to be self-sufficient and independent and to promote self-sustaining development on the basis of collective self-reliance, and the interdependence of Member States. Innovative ways in resources mobilization will enable SADC to tap available resources, so as to fast-track development and implementation of key SADC programmes, particularly the development of regional infrastructure as a priority.
The importance to finalize the review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) was also underscored, and as such, the need to harmonise and synergize implementation of the RISDP with the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO).
