Countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region need each other now more than ever before in order to overcome economic challenges. This was said by the South African High Commissioner to Zambia, Ms Sikose Mji. She was addressing a trade and investment seminar which formed part of the Outward Selling Mission (OSM) that is led by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) to Lusaka, Zambia yesterday. More than 100 South African and Zambian businesspeople attended the seminar.

According to Mji, it is through regional integration that trade and investment within the region would improve economies of the SADC region.

“The process for regional integration has never been greater than it is today because of the challenges that the region faces. Successful economic development relies on the region embracing and implementing the regional integration programme,” added Mji.

Mji singled out youth unemployment and climate change as the biggest threats to SADC countries achieving regional economic development goals.
“These challenges can be addressed through partnerships and common goals within the region. The partnerships can be in a form of strong and sustainable business-to-business relations, investments and trade within the members of the region and can take the region to a higher level,” said Mji.

The Zambian Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Ms Margaret Mwanakatwe said South Africa’s granting of permission to Zambia for exporting pure honey into the country was indicative of the warm and cordial relations that exist between the two.

“It is on the basis of these solid relations that we must strive and work hard to increase exports to South Africa, eventually reducing the negative trade balance that currently exists,” said Mwanakatwe.

She added that the seminar had a special significance in that it does not only aim to broaden and deepen the scope of relations but to also stimulate more direct interaction between the business communities. According Mwanakatwe, Zambia is diversifying the economy and the country is in need of companies that would enter into partnerships and explore the untapped abundant resources that Zambia presents.

Caption: From left: The South African High Commissioner to Zambia, Ms Sikose Mji and the Zambian Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Ms Margaret Mwanakatwe addressing the media after the trade and investment seminar in Lusaka.

Issued by The Department of Trade and Industry