Special economic zones bedrock for Industrial development- Sadc experts
SPECIAL economic zones (SEZs) are a key policy tool in industrial and economic growth, an official has said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 7th Sadc Industrialisation Week and Exhibition held in Harare recently, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) director Ms Eunice Kamwendo said SEZs are an important policy tool to support private sector development, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
“SEZs should align with a country’s comparative and competitive advantage and be supported by a conducive policy and regulatory environment, including the integration of these zones into broader national development plans and policy frameworks,” said Ms Kamwendo.
“Strong political will is necessary to secure bilateral investment commitments to the zones by providing confidence to investors.”
Ms Kamwendo emphasised that stakeholders in the region should consider the specific needs, priorities, and comparative and competitive advantages of each country in the region in deciding on specific SEZs approaches.
In addition, she underlined that it is crucial to introduce transparent and harmonised policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for transboundary SEZs to facilitate the growth of regional value chains.
Speaking at the same event, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zimbabwe, Mr Edward Kallon, in remarks read on his behalf by the UNESCO Regional Director of the Regional Office for Southern Africa and UNESCO Representative to Zimbabwe Ms Nisha, lauded ECA for supporting regional structural transformation, development and growth through various targeted initiatives in member States.
“ECA remains a trusted partner in the development journey in Southern Africa and has, recently supported Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in recalibrating industrial policies for alignment and harmonisation with regional frameworks,” said Ms Nisha.
She said Southern Africa should leverage its mineral wealth for sustainable industrialisation and the creation of sustainable jobs while adhering to lofty environmental and social standards, adding that this requires strong governance frameworks, elaborate environmental regulations, and the active participation of all stakeholders.
“The path to sustainable industrialisation in Southern Africa requires collective effort, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment,” said Ms Nisha. “By harnessing the potential of SEZs, supporting MSMEs, and leveraging the support of development partners, we can build resilient economies that are both inclusive and sustainable.”
The ECA sub regional for Southern Africa organised two expert sessions during the Industrialisation Week as part of support to the regional industrial developed-regional meet agenda.
The sessions focused on the establishment and management of SEZs and critical energy transition minerals development.
They provided a platform for sharing experiences on the development and management of SEZs, both national and cross-border and also allowed regional experts to explore the emerging issues in the exploitation of green minerals and the just energy transition leveraging the rich natural resource base on the continent.-chroncile
