Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has today launched the SADC industrialization week ahead of the upcoming Summit of SADC Heads of state.
This is the fourth SADC industrialization week and it is running under the theme; A Conducive Environment for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development, Increased Intra-regional Trade and Job Creation.
The event isbeing held from the 5th – 9that the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es salaam. It highlights ongoing regional efforts to realize the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063.
Speaking at the launch, President Magufuli, who took office in 2015 on the industrialization ticket said Tanzania will continue to push the industrialization agenda as the key to national development especially through agricultural value chains which in turn opens up new employment opportunities for youth in the country.
Known as SADC Industrialization Week (SIW), the event has attracted over 3000 compnaies for the week long exhibition.
Of these companies, over 1500 are product exhibitors and pf these, over 1400 are Tanzanians exhibitors, a turn out that has been described as ‘a clear sign of Tanzania taking on the industrialization agenda.’
Speaking to press at the launch, Tanzania’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Innocent Bashungwa said Tanzania’s trade with other SADC countries has been on the rise.
According to the Minister, Statistics Tanzanian exports to SADC countries in 2018 were $ 999.64 million, compared with $ 877.8 million in 2017 this equates to an increase of 12.16 percent.
“The event is a public-private engagement platform that helps to foster new opportunities for intra-African trade and investment in the southern African region – SADC.
The event is held annually to promote the continent’s industrialization agenda. The first industrialization week was first held 3 years ago during the 36th SADC Heads of State Summit in Mbabane, Swaziland in 2016.
The SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063 recognizes the importance of technological and economic transformation of the SADC region through industrialization, modernization, skills development, science and technology, financial strengthening and deeper regional integration.
The strategy and roadmap is anchored on three pillars — industrialization, competitiveness and regional integration. Strategic interventions for each of these pillars are proposed in the action plan.
Background
This is the 39th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State Summit under the theme “Competitive Business Environment for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development.”
To be held on Aug 17 – 18, the Summit will bring together 16 Heads of State to deliberate agendas endorsed by the SADC Council of Ministers.
Towards close of the industrialization week, the Heads of State and Government Summit will proceed for two days (17-18) at which meeting, Tanzanian President John Magufuli will be inaugurated Chairman of the SADC.
President Magufuli, who is now the deputy chairperson of SADC, will be taking over leadership of the regional body from his Namibian counterpart, President Hage Geingob
Speaking to press ahead of the event, Tanzanian Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister, Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi described the Summit as an ‘important meeting that gives shape and focus to the regional integration agenda of southern Africa.’
“Hosting the SADC Summit is a great honour to us as a nation,” media quoted Prof. Kabudi.