A delegation of United States of America Diplomats attending a U.S Conference in Gaborone, Botswana, paid a courtesy call to the SADC Secretariat on Friday, 16 November 2018. The delegation was composed by U.S Diplomats serving at U.S Embassies in SADC Member States, the African Union (AU), and Senior State Department Officials from Washington D.C.
Mr. Andoniaina Andriamiandrisoa from the Directorate of Policy Planning and Resource Mobilisation welcomed the delegation on behalf of the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Dr Thembinkosi Mhlongo.
During the visit, the delegation received presentations on SADC priorities and strategic frameworks, namely, the SIPO, the Revised RISDP 2015-2020, and the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063. The U.S Diplomats also exchanged views with SADC Secretariat's Officials on issues pertaining to, among others, regional governance, security cooperation, human trafficking, and regional development.
The SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Dr Thembinkosi Mhlongo wished that this visit will constitute one of the platforms for enhancing the alignment and harmonization of interventions towards achieving SADC regional integration, and thanked the delegation for the continued cooperation and support to SADC Secretariat and SADC Member States in various other areas, including regional cooperation implemented through the existing agreement between SADC and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
While in Botswana, the delegation also met with officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Botswana and other relevant stakeholders.
