Southern African countries need to accelerate industrialisation, expand regional value chains and boost intra-regional trade to create jobs and improve livelihoods, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said on Friday.
Speaking at the closing session of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers meeting in Durban, Lamola said regional integration must translate into concrete improvements in people’s lives, amid persistent unemployment and food insecurity across the region.
“The success of our work will be measured less by the decisions adopted here than by their translation into practical outcomes that expand economic opportunities, strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods across the region,” said Lamola, who chaired the SADC Council of Ministers.
Unemployment exceeded 30% in six member states, while 58 million people in the region remained uncertain about their next meal, he said, adding that with young people making up 60% of the population, the region must expand jobs, skills and opportunities for young people.
“Meeting all these aspirations requires transforming the productive structure of our economies,” Lamola said, calling for manufacturing’s contribution to gross domestic product to rise toward the regional target of 30% by 2030.
He also called for the development of regional value chains and increased trade among member states, saying SADC commitments must be translated into concrete action at national and regional levels. – Xinhua
- Southern African countries need to accelerate industrialisation, expand regional value chains and boost intra-regional trade to create jobs and improve livelihoods, according to South African Minister Ronald Lamola.
- Lamola emphasized that regional integration must lead to concrete improvements in people’s lives amid high unemployment and food insecurity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
- Unemployment exceeds 30% in six SADC member states, and 58 million people in the region face food insecurity, while young people constitute 60% of the population.
- Lamola called for increasing manufacturing's contribution to the gross domestic product to reach a regional target of 30% by 2030.
- He stressed the need for translating SADC commitments into practical actions at both national and regional levels to expand economic opportunities and improve livelihoods.
