Zimbabwe is poised to host the 7^th SADC Industrialisation Week from July 29 July to 02 August, 2024.

This event is of profound significance for Zimbabweans as the nation is set to assume the Chair of the bloc for the second time within a decade. The previous tenure occurred in 2014, during which Zimbabwe played a leading role in the formulation and advocacy of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2063), which was subsequently adopted by Member States.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) stands as a pivotal regional organization committed to fostering socio-economic development, political stability, and regional integration among its Member States. Founded on principles of cooperation and mutual support, SADC advocates for inclusive growth, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development across Southern Africa. Through collaborative efforts, SADC has achieved significant milestones in enhancing trade facilitation, infrastructure development, and regional security cooperation, thereby bolstering the socio-economic landscape of the region.

For a country like Zimbabwe, active participation in SADC embodies a pathway to enhanced regional cooperation and socio-economic advancement. By leveraging the resources, expertise, and collaborative frameworks facilitated by SADC, Zimbabwe has garnered substantial benefits, ranging from increased trade opportunities to enhanced infrastructure development and capacity building. Moreover, Zimbabwe’s tenure as the Chair of SADC underscores its commitment to regional integration and collective action in addressing shared challenges and pursuing common objectives.

Central to the SADC agenda is the promotion of Industrialisation as a catalyst for regional integration, economic transformation and job creation. Henceforth, SADC emphasizes the importance of fostering robust public-private partnerships (PPPs), as the private sector plays a pivotal role towards driving innovation, investment and economic growth.

To promote industrialisation, SADC adopted the hosting of the Industrialisation Week, a public–private platform to foster new opportunities for intra-African trade and investment in the Southern Africa region.  This platform underscores the indispensable contributions of the private sector in unlocking the region’s economic potential and driving industrialisation initiatives.