The Southern African Development Community (SADC) officially launched a Regional Investment Forum on Mineral Beneficiation Value Chains in Johannesburg, yesterday.
The aim of the Forum is to support the development of the value-chain in energy storage (batteries), copper and mining inputs.
The four-day event which is funded by the European Union (EU) through the Support to Improving the Investment and Business Environment in the SADC Region (SIBE) Programme, is pursuing ownership, partnerships, and cooperation in developing projects amongst Member States.
Speaking at the event, Sadwick Mtonakutha, SADC Director of Finance Investment and Customs, said the achievement of the industrial policy as recognised by the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, can only be attained through forging symbiotic relationships amongst governments, private sector, industry, civil society, labour and development partners.
Angela Dau-Pretorius, Chairperson of the SADC Investment Subcommittee, emphasised the objective of the Forum, as supporting industrialisation through mineral beneficiation while ensuring that the identified regional investment projects serve as a catalyst to boost trade, create decent jobs and promote sustainable and diversified growth.
The SADC Secretariat is expected to identify 20 potential regional investment projects and development partners.
A more technical forum comprising of Chief Executive Officers of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) is expected to convene, to provide a high-level intervention on opportunities for joint project development, joint promotion, policy, and regulatory harmonisation.
The Forum will conclude with a business consultation session which is aimed at serving as a vehicle for networking, cooperation, and collaboration in the development of the regional investment projects.
Currently representatives driving the initiative are Ministries of Investment, Finance, Industry, Mining and Commerce, regional and international Development Financial Institutions, SADC and Regional Economic Communities.