Gaborone, Botswana – April 5, 2024
Top officials from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN-ECA), and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) convened at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana on April 5, 2024, for a pivotal meeting aimed at fostering collaboration and exploring opportunities for regional development.
His Excellency, Mr. Elias Magosi, the Executive Secretary of SADC, welcomed Mr. Claver Gatete, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UN-ECA, as well as Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, the President of BADEA, for discussions on shared interests, particularly focusing on agricultural export markets. The UN-ECA, established in 1958 by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), stands as one of five regional economic commissions dedicated to driving socio-economic advancement across continents. Since 2014, UN-ECA has been actively supporting SADC in various initiatives aimed at accelerating socio-economic transformation within the region.
During the meeting, Mr. Magosi proposed several initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation between SADC and its partners. These included aligning with UN-ECA in implementing SADC’s industrialization Action Plan, supporting member states in navigating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and collaborating on capacity-building endeavors.
Furthermore, the partnership between SADC and BADEA was reinforced with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on December 1, 2023. This MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for cooperation across various development sectors, including industry, transportation, infrastructure, energy, and agriculture, among others. Both parties committed to jointly facilitating forums, seminars, and exhibitions involving key stakeholders and the private sector.
In line with their commitment to enhancing investment opportunities, SADC and BADEA agreed to convene a SADC-BADEA Investment Forum. Scheduled to take place alongside the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in August 2024 in Harare, Zimbabwe, this forum aims to catalyze investment initiatives that will further propel regional development and economic growth.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue working collaboratively towards realizing the socio-economic potential of the Southern African region, guided by principles of inclusivity, sustainability, and mutual benefit.
Source: “SADC Executive Secretary Meets Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Africa and President of Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa.” Southern African Development Community. Accessed April 8, 2024. URL: https://www.sadc.int/latest-news/sadc-executive-secretary-meets-executive-secretary-economic-commission-africa-and
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