By ANDREW MUKOMA
THE Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has encouraged Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to pursue industrialisation as key to overall economic advancement and the improvement of the living conditions of citizens.
Ms Eunice Kamwendo, Director, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Sub- regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) has observed that historically, achieving higher economic growth, high levels of incomes and ultimate improvement of economic conditions including reduced unemployment and poverty, has been associated with the expansion of the manufacturing sector.
Ms Kamwendo has said that developing countries that have been able to transition from low income to upper middle- and high-income status, particularly in Asia, have relied on the manufacturing sector, supported by an export-oriented strategic focus as the main source and engine of growth.
She said similarly, economic development in Africa, especially in the COVID-19 recovery period, hinges on the promotion of change that transforms the regional productive structure from low-value commodities to high-value products through value addition.
In her address at the official opening of the ICOSE meeting at Chrismar Hotel in Livingstone yesterday, Ms Kamwendo said that industrial development anchors economic diversification and drives the enhancement of productive capacities.
Ms Kamwendo said, this in turn will allow member states and the region to meet the needs of citizens, increase the creation of wealth and the generation of jobs, reduction of poverty and inequality, and setting the economies on a sustainable development path.
“As you are well aware, industrialization and structural transformation is at the center of the developmental agenda of both SADC and COMESA.,” she said.
She charged that a key action in facilitating regional industrialization and value chains is the domestication of the aspirations of the regional frameworks in regional member States.
“As ECA, we believe in the importance of policy harmonization in facilitating regional industrial development and especially anchoring value chains development,” she stated
And Chairperson of the 27th Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICOSE) of Southern Africa Heatherwick Njati said the importance of industrialization as a vehicle for promoting economic growth cannot be overemphasized.
Mr Njati said industrial development means the production of higher value goods, an increase in exports and export earnings, improvement in resource efficiency, creation of linkage opportunities with other sectors and availability of sustainable employment opportunities with it increasing income levels and a better quality of life for citizens.
“Indeed, inclusive, sustainable and transformative industrialization is about diversification, enhanced competitiveness and shared benefits among stakeholders,” he said.
“As you aware, the region is currently grappling with a myriad of structural challenges and constraints compounded by climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic; which could be addressed by sustainable and inclusive industrialization, leveraging the linkage opportunities through value-chains development and the larger African Continental Free Trade area (AfCFTA) market,” Mr Njati said.
He acknowledged the coordinated and collaborative efforts of SADC and COMESA to boost regional industrial development and structural transformation attested to by the extant regional policies and strategies to guide and inform member States in development pursuits anchored on the exploitation of the abundant natural resources.
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