The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao said here Thursday that the region should now concentrate on infrastructure development, skills development and general economic development following the achievement of security and political stability.
Speaking at the pre-summit press briefing, Salomao said the region has been politically stable for the last 15 years hence the need to now concentrate on economic integration and development.
Investment, trade, infrastructural development, skills development and food security should be prioritized among the SADC member countries, he said.
He said that food security is one of the important factors that the region should address.
"As a region, we cannot continue to beg for food. We need to be and we must be self-sufficient," he said.
Salomao said that one country in the region could feed all SADC member states with a total population of about 230 million if agriculture is properly administered.
He added the HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the major challenges the region is facing and therefore, this should be addressed.
He said all main issues of economic development would be considered in the heads of state and government summit to be held here next week.
A meeting for senior SADC officials has been going on since Monday on issues that would expand economic development in the SADC region.
A task force on regional integration was meeting at the same venue.
Senior SADC officials will be sitting Friday to prepare the agenda for the summit.
Meanwhile, Salomao has announced that a standby SADC brigade would be launched during the summit, while a briefing on the status of launching a free trade area and a SADC development fund would be made as well.
Later, there would be the signing of various protocols concerning the SADC region before the summit ends on August 17.
He said that the standby brigade would be a group of soldiers from all SADC members states which would be sent for various peacekeeping missions where need arises.
Salomao said the general economic growth outlook in the SADC region has been impressive, despite a few challenges in selected areas.
Source: Xinhua
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