Public-private partnerships to foster digital development of industry and trade in Southern Africa: side-event concept note

Abstract

The Sub regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the SADC Business Council, held a sensitization forum to raise awareness within the private sector on post-COVID recovery strategies and regional integration in Southern Africa, with a focus on challenges and opportunities for the private sector in the sub region. As was highlighted in the concept note of the forum, the COVID-19 crisis has put a spotlight on the contribution that regional integration can make to reducing the vulnerability of African countries to global shocks and to global markets in general. This side event will aim to highlight areas of synergies between the vision of the UNIDO road map and ongoing developments in the Southern African region, such as the SADC industrialization strategy, as well as to establish areas for public-private sector partnerships in order to leverage digitalization with a view to enhancing industrialization and regional trade in Southern Africa.