Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure
Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZIMBABWE is hosting the 34th Committee of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the 24th Ministerial Taskforce on Regional Integration at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden.
The meeting is being held under the theme: “Promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained Economic growth and development towards an industrialised SADC”.
Officially opening the meeting this morning, chairperson of the senior officials, Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, said the meeting marked a critical juncture in a collective effort to deepen regional integration, enhance trade facilitation and drive industrial development across the region.
The SADC Committee of Ministers of Trade session is a precursor to the Committee of Ministers (CMT) Session scheduled for June 5.
He commended the SADC Secretariat in collaboration with the Government for their diligent preparations to ensure the success of the meeting.
“It is heartening to note that despite the prolonged hiatus since the last CMT meeting in July 2023, member states have continued to register commendable progress in implementing the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) and related regional programmes,” he said.
“This demonstrates our unwavering resolve to advance the SADC regional integration agenda, even amid Global economic turbulence. We must, however, equally acknowledge that several discussions from the previous CMT meetings are outstanding and unimplemented due to various challenges, including the prolonged hiatus that we witnessed.”
