On 18th August, 2019, the Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in conjunction with the European Union signed three Development Cooperation Programmes funded to the tune of €47 Million for a period of five years under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF 11).
Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, the SADC Executive Secretary signed on behalf of SADC and His Excellency Mr Jan Sadek, Ambassador of the EU to SADC signed on behalf of the EU during the 39th SADC Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
The three Programmes are; Support to Improving the Investment and Business Environment (SIBE); Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) and Support to Industrialisation and Productive Sectors (SIPS) and in doing so support the operationalisation of the 39th SADC theme; A Conducive Environment for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development, Increased Intra-Regional Trade and Job Creation,.
The SIBE Programme aims at achieving sustainable and inclusive growth and job creation through the transformation of the region into a SADC investment zone, promoting intra-regional investment and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the SADC region, in particular for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The Trade Facilitation Programme will contribute to enhancing inclusive economic development in the SADC region through deepening regional economic integration. Finally, the SIPS programme aims to contribute to the SADC industrialisation agenda by improving the performance and growth of selected regional value chains and related services within the agro-processing and pharmaceutical sectors.
Making her remarks following the signing of the three programmes, the SADC Executive Secretary, H.E Dr Tax noted that signing of the three agreements reflects the continued partnership between SADC and EU towards enhancing the SADC regional integration and development, particularly at the time when SADC has committed to place the industrialisation at the centre of regional integration.
HE. Mr Jan Sadek, Ambassador of the EU to SADC, remarked that trade facilitation, the promotion of a competitive and diversified industrial development, investment promotion and an improved business environment are the foundation for inclusive and sustainable development". He further indicated that the three new EU-SADC programmes are a reflection of the EU strategy towards Africa, as expressed in the EU-Africa Alliance for sustainable development and jobs.
