OUTGOING Sadc Business Council chairperson Vincente Soares made a rallying cry yesterday, urging regional leaders to unite and drive transformative industrialisation across the region.
“We are a global region that has given us everything we need, an abundant resource, a good climate and lots of youth,” Soares told delegates at the 7th Sadc Industrialisation Week in Harare yesterday.
“Now it is time for us to roll up our sleeves and implement our strategy and transform our region in an organised way. Let me emphasise this point.
“There is no development without industrialisation and there is no industrialisation without the active role of the private sector.”
Soares said there was a need for constructive, well-organised and inclusive dialogue between the public and the private sectors.
He said tariff barriers continued to hinder the free flow of goods and services in the region thus the need to work closely with governments to identify and eliminate these barriers.
"Sadc and the Sadc Business Council signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening private sector collaboration, participation and partnership in the promotion of industrialisation, investment, regional and international trade and the contribution to the economic and social development of member States.
The MoU seeks to promote co-operation in trade and trade facilitation, finance and investment, industrial development, micro, small and medium enterprises development, sustainable development and other service sectors to support the development of industry and human capital.
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