Antananarivo: President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Antananarivo, Madagascar, ahead of the Southern African Development Community's 45th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.
According to South African Government News Agency, the summit is being held under the theme: 'Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC'. The Summit is convened in terms of Article 10 of the SADC Treaty to provide overall policy direction of the functions of SADC, informed by reports and recommendations from the Council of Ministers and the Organ Troika Summit, which affect the SADC region.
Leaders will focus on accelerating regional integration through key pillars: strengthening industrial capacity and regional value chains, modernising agriculture, and promoting an inclusive energy transition-all aimed at building a resilient, sustainable, and cohesive SADC region, the Presidency said in a statement.
The summit is expected to review progress on the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020 - 2030, consider a report from the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and review achievements under the 44th Summit theme - 'Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC'.
During the gathering, several instruments will be signed, including the SADC Protocol on Industry (2019), SADC Protocol on Statistics (2021), Declaration on the Protection of Persons with Albinism (2024), and the Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on Tourism Development (2019).
It is expected that South Africa will be elected as the incoming Chair of SADC and host the 46th summit in August next year. The Presidency explained that the Summit is of strategic importance for South Africa, as it will be the fourth time joining the SADC Summit Troika. South Africa's Chairship in 2026 will provide a unique opportunity for the country to assume a strategic leadership role in the region, nine years after the previous tenure as Chairperson in 2017.