Seychelles supports Sadc regional industrialisation strategy, roadmap |07 May 2015

Seychelles has endorsed the Southern African Development Community regional industrialisation strategy and roadmap (2015-2063), a strategy aimed at guiding the entire region in its quest for socio-economic transformation through industrialisation.

Designated Minister Vincent Meriton, representing President Michel, headed the Seychelles delegation at the Sadc extraordinary summit which discussed issues concerning the Regional Industrialisation strategy and Roadmap, the launch of the Comesa-EAC-Sadc Tripartite Free trade Area and the launch of negotiations for the Continental Free trade Area that was held on April 29, 2015 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Like all other member states, Seychelles endorsed the Sadc Regional Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015- 2063). This decision by the summit entails a structural transformation of the Sadc region as it is recognises that industrialisation is an important driver for the economic development and integration of all countries of the community.

In his intervention Minister Meriton stated that the Sadc region in its diversity also comprises coastal and island states. He expressed his appreciation that the Blue Economy concept was being incorporated in the strategy and roadmap.

The ocean has therefore a pivotal role to play in the industrialisation process. The process will have the benefit of integrating ocean-based economies in the process. It offers boundless opportunities ranging from tourism, fishing, shipping, renewable energy, oil and mineral extraction, to name a few. It will also address the infrastructural challenges faced by countries like Seychelles, such as the need for greater investment in regional ports and viable shipping networks which are capital in instigating growth in our national economies.

The summit also discussed the various market integration initiatives, more specifically the launch of the Comesa-EAC-Sadc Tripartite Free trade Area and the launch of negotiations for the continental Free Trade Area in June 2015. It was suggested that there was a need for coherence in the various negotiations so as not to exert pressure on human and financial resources devoted to negotiating multiple agreements simultaneously – a position which the Seychelles delegation endorsed.

The meeting was also attended by Ambassador Claude Morel, High Commissioner for Seychelles in South Africa and permanent representative to Sadc; Kenneth Racombo, director general for development and regional integration; Jonathan Berlouis, development programme officer from the department of foreign affairs, Mike Laval and Rudy Rose, trade officers from the department of finance and trade.


The strategy and roadmap recognises that industrial policy formulation and implementation will largely be undertaken at national level and that its success will depend on forging effective partnerships between governments and the private sector.

The goal of the industrialisation strategy is to promote processing and value addition to products to boost the region's earnings from exports.

The 15-nation southern African bloc is currently shipping most of its products in raw form and Sadc executive secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, has said the strategy would guide the entire region in its quest for socio-economic transformation through industrialisation.

The strategy, which will be rolled out from 2015 to 2063 in three phases, was prepared by Sadc member states with technical and financial support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and GIZ.

The Sadc regional industrialisation strategy and roadmap is anchored on three pillars: industrialisation, competitiveness and regional integration.