In the margins of the 2018 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which is held in Beijing from 1 to 4 September 2018, a delegation from the SADC Secretariat led by the SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, met the Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Elia George Kaiyamo in his capacity as the Chairperson of SADC Ambassadors accredited to the Peoples Republic of China, on 1st September 2018.
The objective of the meeting was to appraise the Chairperson of the SADC Ambassadors on SADC priorities with a view to enable the enhancement of collaboration between SADC and China for a win-win cooperation. The brief focused on strategic areas and investment opportunities including infrastructure projects, value chains, skills development, as well as on the development of a Framework Agreement on Economy, Trade, Investment and Technical Cooperation to guide cooperation between SADC and the People’s Republic of China. Dr. Tax also informed Dr. Kaiyamo about the SADC Standby Force Regional Logistics Depot that is under construction, and is aimed to enhance peace and security, and is among the areas where support from China is being sought.
The SADC Executive Secretary also appraised the Ambassador on a number of value chains with investment opportunities for collaboration between SADC and the Chinese investors, including leather; soya, aquaculture, iron and steel; copper; cement; manufacturing of ARVs; malaria medicines; and mosquito bed nets.
Ambassador Kaiyamo expressed gratitude for the SADC Secretariat’s visit to the Embassy, and expressed his and SADC Ambassadors in China’s commitment to support the regional integration agenda. He expressed his unwavering commitment to enhance SADC-China cooperation.
The two Parties committed to work together with a view of mutually supporting the SADC development and integration agenda through fostering cooperation between SADC and the People’s Republic of China.
The SADC Executive Secretary was accompanied by the Director of Infrastructure, Ms. Mapolao Rosemary Mokoena, the Project Coordinator for the SADC Regional Logistics Depot, Mr. Martin Malongo, the Programme Officer for Resource Mobilisation, Mr. Andoniaina Andriamiandrisoa, and the Executive Secretary Assistant, Mr. Alex Banda
