Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
VIENNA (3 Nov.): The Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr.. Kaire Mbuende has expressed concern over the declining overseas development assistance (OAD) which is not being replaced by trade and investment.
In his opening statement at the two-day SADC/EU joint ministerial conference which started today in Vienna, Austria, Dr.. Mbuende noted that "there is a vast disparity between the decline of overseas development assistance flow of investment" adding that "there is a role for ODA as an expression of international solidarity and as mechanism for social justice among nations".
The Vienna SADC-EU conference is being attended by foreign minister or their deputies from the 14 SADC and 15 EU member states. The meeting is within the framework of the berlin Initiative of September 1994, which was followed the Windhoek gathering two years later.
Dr. Mbuende, reminded the meeting that Southern Africa offers "an investment-friendly climate and has been implementing sound economic policies which resulted in declining budget deficits, low inflation rates and positive growth. Notwithstanding all these efforts, foreign direct investment particularly from Europe is low in coming".
However, the SADC chief disclosed that a major European/SADC Investment Promotion Programme (ESIP), which is aimed at attracting European investment to the SADC region, is underway.
Turning to the debt question which he described as "a political issue" and "a nightmare to a number of our Member States", Dr. Mbuende noted that it "deprives countries of resources to invest in the social sectors of health and education." He appealed to the EU members to use their influence to prevail on the many international forums where this issue is discussed regularly.
Dr. Mbuende, however, said the four-year Berlin Initiative has enhanced cooperation between the two regional bodies in terms of increased interaction between "different levels of our societies, governments, private sector and civil society, including institutions of higher learning."
The SADC chief also noted achievements, under the initiative, in lindmine clearance, drug control programme, water resource development and management, and HIV/AIDS.
The on-going discussions in Vienna are expected to cover such diverse areas as trade barriers reduction, conflict prevention and resolution, war against drug trafficking, children's rights, debt crisis, democracy and human rights, landmine clearance, and reintegration of former soldiers and Post-Lome.