"We cannot continue to lose the benefits of the abundant resources that we have, such as oil and ores, continuing to export without added value, and then import these already transformed products", said Elias Mpedi Magosi at the opening of the 43rd SADC summit, which takes place this Thursday in Luanda.
"Our industrialization strategy seeks to limit imports of manufactured goods and encourage exports, strengthening competitiveness and regional integration", added the executive secretary of SADC, a region with a Gross Domestic Product of 720 billion dollars, plus of 661 billion euros, and which is home to around 360 million people.
"75 percent of the inhabitants are young, and the region is a market with enormous potential for investment and economic development", stressed Elias Mpedi Magosi.
In the speech that marked the beginning of the work, the official also left an appeal "to international cooperation partners and the private sector to join forces with SADC and Member States to implement projects that make a difference in the lives of citizens".
The 43rd ordinary summit of political leaders of the regional organization is being held under the theme "Human and Financial Capital: Key Factors for Sustainable Industrialization in the SADC Region".
The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, who succeeds in the political leadership of the bloc to his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo), Félix Tchisekedi, gave a speech at the opening of the works, which will address political, socioeconomic, peace and security issues, training of youth and women.
The political leadership of SADC by Angola should be marked by two points of tension, namely the conflict in the east of neighboring DRCongo and acts of terrorism in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, where SADC has a force (SAMIM - Missão Militar da África Austral) to combat Islamic fundamentalism.
SADC is an economic bloc formed by the Portuguese-speaking Angola and Mozambique, in addition to South Africa, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Swaziland, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
