Report on private sector and regional integration in Southern Africa: accelerating opportunities for investment and growth

Abstract

The private sector constitutes the major anchor for promoting trade and investments in the regional landscape and accelerating the economic growth and development of member States. The SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap, 2015 will be unrealizable if the private sector is not mainstreamed in regional development priorities and agenda. Regrettably, the private sector has often been conspicuously absent from the regional integration process in Southern Africa, and indeed throughout the continent. The objective of the Forum was to promote robust dialogue among key stakeholders and explore opportunities for the private sector in driving the regional integration process and promote trade and investments, and enhanced profit. The Forum thus provided a solid foundation for encouraging the private sector to take its rightful place at the center of the regional integration process.