Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira in Malabo Equatorial Guinea
President Mnangagwa has said trade among SADC countries continue to rise as efforts to enhance regional integration and cooperation within the regional bloc bear fruit.
The President, who is also SADC chairperson said this today while addressing the 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea that was attended by several Heads of State and Government on the continent and heads of Regional Economic Communities.
The meeting brought together several Heads of State and Government including the AU chairperson and Angolan president Joao Lourenco and Equatorial Guinea president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
“The implementation of the SADC Free Trade Area is ongoing. Growth in the intra-SADC trade showed an upward trend to 19.8% in 2024 from 18% in 2022. With 85% of tariffs already eliminated, momentum exists that should see the SADC region surpass our 30% intra-regional trade target,” said President Mnangagwa.
The COMESA-Eastern African Community-SADC Tripartite, represents 29 Member States, 60% of Africa’s Gross Domestic Product and over 800 million people. Intra-tripartite trade accounts for approximately 15% to 18% of total trade within the bloc. As such, collaboration within this framework remains key to scaling up our industrial output, opening trade corridors and implementing cross-regional infrastructure.”
He said industrialisation of SADC was being intensified with development of value chains across as sectors getting great attention.
He said infrastructure integration was also being prioritised to enhance regional connectivity.
