STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
DR B.SIBUSISO DLAMINI
AT THE SADC INDUSTRIALIZATION WEEK DINNER
AT THE ROYAL SWAZI SUN CONVENTION CENTRE
THURSDAY 25 AUGUST 2016
Your Royal Highnesses
Executive Secretary of SADC
President of the African Development Bank
Chief Executive Officer – NEPAD Business Foundation
Honourable Ministers
Members of both Houses of Parliament
Captains of Industry
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honour, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, to welcome you all to the Kingdom of Swaziland and to the first annual SADC Industrialization Week, together with the second Southern Africa Business Forum Conference.
It is a great honour for the Kingdom of Swaziland to have been hosts to the SADC private sector, especially at what might be viewed as a critical, catalytic moment in the industrialization of our member states. It is the time of transition, when planning gives the floor, so to speak, to hard action. It is when action must be identified and commitment made, especially from the key players, to changing the economic landscape of our respective countries. The stakeholders, in particular the private sectors, are tasked with efficiently and effectively implementing the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015 – 2063 which was adopted by the Summit in Harare in April 2015.
The three core pillars of the Strategy and Roadmap are industrialization, competition and regional integration, bringing together the public and private sectors, each making a contribution towards achieving investment- driven economies to achieve structural and technological economic transformation in the region.
In order for technological transformation to occur there is a need, not just for cohesive and converging policies, but for ones that are accompanied by investments that increase our productive capabilities to achieve the Africa Union Agenda 2063. Measures are to be put in place that support sustainable development whereby policies serve as incentives for innovation, research and development, and capacity building while addressing the socio-economic welfare of people in the region.
Resource Mobilisation for Investment in Sustainable Energy Infrastructure for an Inclusive SADC Industrialisation for the Prosperity of the Region - that is the theme that we hope will occupy the attention of all member States and their private sectors over the coming months. And it does, of course, dovetail with implementation of the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap. It quite rightly places the need for sustainable energy to be positioned right up among the highest priorities for a viable industrialization programme, while implicitly acknowledging what are the biggest constraints – financial and technological resources.
In Africa, 75% of the population has no access to electricity, with a similarly high percentage relying on biomass fuels for their cooking, which has a negative impact on their health and the environment. From a purely social perspective the need for far broader access to electricity is almost screaming at us. From an economic – especially industrialization – perspective the scream is no quieter.
Governments, private sector and development partners must get together to determine how best to access and benefit from the financial, technological and capacity development resources that are offered through global initiatives for investment. And while we are at it, why can we not pursue the ultimate objective in energy generation for industrial nations – the green economy. And why should we not be aiming for the zenith of sustainable energy ambitions – 100% renewable energy?
What an achievement that would be. Not only guaranteeing the sustainability of energy supply but showing by example what the world can do to reduce the impact of adverse climate change, currently one of the biggest threats to our existence. And we should add the sharing of the programme through the regional integration agenda. Efficiency in energy will undoubtedly contribute to structural socio-economic transformation, assisted by technological modernization and improved competitiveness. We need our industries to promote the growth of domestic, regional and global value chains.
Our SADC region is rich in natural resources. Regional value addition through better value chain participation has, within our strategies, been identified for intensive focus. Minerals beneficiation and agro-processing are prioritized areas for value chains within a deepening regional integration. Other significant value chain opportunities lie in the pharmaceutical and light manufacturing industries.
Resources need to be mobilized to fund energy infrastructure development which will be instrumental in the implementation of the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap. SADC has begun the process of costing the Action Plan for the implementation of the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap. The private sectors are encouraged to be part of that process, and commit themselves through supportive investments. A paradigm shift is upon us to take advantage of the geo-economic and technological changes which are promoting economic growth through enhanced industrial capabilities and global competitiveness. The commodity era has passed and transformation through inclusive industrialization is the secret behind faster, sustainable economic development.
The SADC Industrialisation Week was indeed a fertile setting that brought together the public and private sectors, international cooperating partners and other strategic partners, showcasing products and potential value chains. Let us make sure that the action programme that will follow does real justice to the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap. Time for delivery!
On behalf of His Majesty’s Government I would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the Captains of Industries for making themselves available to participate in this SADC Industrialization Week. I wish all here the most fruitful of collaborative and productive sessions during this crucially important week for the future industrialisation of the countries of the SADC region.
Thank you.