Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo-Herald Reporter
SADC will next week hold its 9th Annual Industrialisation Week, which will serve as a high-level precursor to the regional bloc’s 46th Summit of Heads of State and Government.
Under the theme, “Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World,” the event will bring together governments, businesses, investors, academia, development finance institutions and other stakeholders to promote industrialisation, investment, regional integration and economic transformation.
In a communiqué yesterday, the SADC Secretariat said discussions will centre on strengthening regional value chains, infrastructure development, investment mobilisation, critical minerals beneficiation, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, digital transformation, innovation and the empowerment of women and youth.
“The 9th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week will be held from 27-31 July 2026 at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, hosted in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the SADC Business Council.
“The event will serve as a high-level precursor to the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, with His Excellency Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, as Guest of Honour and keynote Speaker.
“The event will also be graced by the presence of His Excellency Mr Elias Magosi, the SADC Executive Secretary, Ministers, senior government officials, business leaders and other distinguished stakeholders from the region and beyond,” said the regional bloc.
The SIW supports the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2063), which prioritises industrialisation, competitiveness and regional integration.
Through policy dialogues, technical sessions, workshops and stakeholder engagements, the SIW aims to identify practical solutions for resilient, inclusive and sustainable industrial growth, job creation, regional competitiveness and shared prosperity across Southern Africa.
Meanwhile, SADC convened the 44th Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Energy and Ministers Responsible for Water to review progress in implementing regional energy and water programmes, assess the implementation of previous Ministerial decisions, and consider strategic interventions aimed at advancing regional integration, sustainable development and climate resilience.
In her introductory remarks, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration Ms Angéle Makombo N’Tumba underscored the strategic importance of the energy and water sectors in driving regional integration and socio-economic transformation.
“She noted that energy and water remain two of the Region’s most important natural resources, supporting health, agriculture, industry and other productive sectors, while contributing to the realisation of the SADC regional integration agenda,” said the regional bloc in a communiqué.
