Accelerating the implementation of the industrial policies of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the Southern African Development Community through local adaptation

Abstract

The implementation of regional industrialization and trade policies and strategies could be strengthened through the accelerated incorporation into national frameworks of industrial policies of COMESA and SADC, regional trade agreements and the African Continental Free Trade Area and this, in turn, could bolster the resilience of countries to shocks induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. To stimulate economic revival, member States need to initiate industrialization through the local adaptation and implementation of strategies and policies elaborated in the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap, 2015–2063, the COMESA Industrialization Policy and other related policies and strategies. This study investigated the extent to which the national industrialization policies of member States have incorporated into their local frameworks the provisions of regional industrialization policies. The overarching objective of those initiatives is to create a modern, competitive and robust industrial sector that is not only fully integrated into the African and global economy, but able to effectively compete on the global market. The study identified the various elements of member State industrial policies and strategies that needed to be aligned with those of COMESA, SADC and the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite. Generally, there is congruence and consistency between the industrial transformation of member States and regional commitments. The study established that member States face several challenges in incorporating regional industrial policies and strategies into local frameworks.