President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says the SADC region has prioritised critical industrial sectors to curb heavy import reliance and maximise finished product exports.
Speaking shortly after arriving back from the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit in South Africa, Dr. Nandi Ndaitwah emphasised that boosting localised manufacturing remains the core focus of the bloc's primary development pillar.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah described the summit as highly fruitful, following high-level talks focused on expanding trade and mining partnerships.
She emphasised that regional industrialisation plans are moving forward, with a sharp focus on value-addition chains, infrastructure investment, and advanced training for local citizens.
"So SADC is really now developing different corridors that are connecting the region. As you might know, in Namibia, we are part of those corridors. For example, if you take the Orange corridor, which is starting in Walvis Bay, and then past Keetmans, going to South Africa, then you have the Kunene Corridor, which is coming from Walvis Bay, and then it goes from Oshikango to Angola, and then the Trans-Kalahari. Which has two branches, which can start in Luderitz and then go to Botswana; it also starts in Walvis Bay and then goes to Botswana and then the Trans-Caprivi, which is starting in Walvis Bay, because we want to make our ports ready to be logistic so that they can be useful for our trade."
Nandi-Ndaitwah further said there is a need to mobilise resources to industrialise the region on the issue of peace amongst the African continent.
"We really need to mobilise resources for us to industrialise the region. And the issue of peace, the SADC, is all done on politics, defence, and security. It also gave a report on situations like the DRC, Madagascar, and Mozambique, and some like in Madagascar, they are really starting the process in order for the interim process to come to a conclusion. And also Mozambique, they are really making some advancement. We know that DRC now is also fighting Ebola, whereby SADC also has to make some contribution to assist in dealing with Ebola."