Seychelles to ratify and domesticate SADC Protocol on Industry |07 May 2020
With 27 votes, the motion asking Seychelles to ratify the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Industry was approved by the National Assembly in yesterday’s session.
The motion was the second item on the National Assembly’s agenda yesterday and it was forwarded by leader of government business Charles De Commarmond.
“The objective of the protocol is to compliment the efforts the department of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development is currently engaged in and to promote value-added activities and diversification in our country,” Honourable De Commarmond said.
He added that through the protocol, it will be easier for entrepreneurs to access financing, as well as developing sectors such as the blue economy and other productive sectors, as per research and analysis.
According to Honourable De Commarmond, the protocol has been signed and ratified by the majority of African states and will serve to facilitate and increase exportation and to develop entrepreneurship and industry.
Honourable De Commarmond proposed a review and evaluation of the entrepreneurship and industry sector in consideration of the resources available locally, before the protocol is implemented.
The motion was seconded by Honourable Egbert Aglae, the United Seychelles (US) elect for Port Glaud, who spoke of the role of SADC (Southern Africa Development Community) and the potential and richness in terms of raw resources across the African continent.
He too proposed that local legislation be harmonised with the provisions of the protocol, referring specifically to tax regimes and political will necessary to domesticate the protocol.
Leader of the opposition Wavel Ramkalawan also intervened, noting the distinction between the SADC and SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADCPF), and said that there is often a lack of harmonisation between the two entities.
“There is nothing wrong with the provisions of the protocol but if it is compared with what is happening on the ground, it is completely different,” Honourable Ramkalawan said during his lengthy intervention, asserting the necessity to enforce the provisions of the protocol, and not just domesticate and adopt the provisions into national law.
Numerous other members of the assembly intervened, including Waven William who once again touched on political will and whether politicians at national level have the political will to boost entrepreneurship and to change the economic model from one centred on tourism to a diverse economy.
In concluding the motion, Honourable De Commarmond highlighted the difficulties and challenges in developing entrepreneurship in Africa, urging the assembly, the executive branch of the government to implement the provisions and address challenges when they arise, to the benefit of the country’s economy and the whole continent.
Background
Following the Assembly’s approval of the motion, the department of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development sent a press release in which more details about the background of the protocol is highlighted.
The press release reads as follows:
“The SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (SISR) was adopted at an extra ordinary summit held on April 29, 2015 in Harare, Zimbabwe. This was following the SADC Heads of State and Government endorsement of the August 2014 Summit Theme:‘SADC Strategy for Economic Transformation: Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development through Beneficiation and Value Addition’. The aim of the strategy and roadmap is to achieve major economic and technological transformation at national and regional levels to accelerate economic growth through industrial development.
“In October 2019, the Department of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development sought the approval of the cabinet of ministers to join the SADC Protocol on Industry, the legal framework which sets out the areas of cooperation under the SISR to build a diversified and globally competitive industrial base and economies. Following approval by the cabinet of ministers, the leader of government business in the National Assembly presented the SADC Protocol on Industry to the National Assembly yesterday, May 6, 2020.
“In order to achieve the objectives of this Protocol, Member States have to cooperate on industrial matters by developing prioritized emerging regional value chains, promoting value addition of goods and process within the region and jointly mobilising resources to support industrialisation.
“In an effort to ensure that the clause of the protocol aligns with Seychelles vision and does not compromise our key sector developments, the draft SADC protocol was circulated for inputs to key stakeholders and their comments was reflected in the revised protocol feedback to the SADC Secretariat. It is vital to note that the draft was endorsed by the Attorney General’s Office through a written letter revealing that the protocol does not have any compromising legal issues.”
Laura Pillay