SADC Officials Confront Trade, Food Security and Infrastructure Gaps at Pretoria Meeting

Pretoria: Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo has urged senior officials from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to confront 'uncomfortable realities' around trade, food security and infrastructure, as they work to accelerate regional integration and economic development. Opening the meeting of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials in Pretoria today, Seokolo said the region must move faster to translate policy commitments into tangible improvements in people's lives. According to South African Government News Agency, the meeting is being held under the theme: 'Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC'. Seokolo, who is the Deputy Director-General: Africa Branch at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and Chairperson of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials, noted that the meeting occurs amidst a global environment marked by geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, climate-related shocks, a nd disruptions to global supply chains. He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in the region to deliver meaningful outcomes for the people. Seokolo highlighted the crucial role of senior officials in ensuring the implementation of regional commitments through sound policies, results-based planning, and sustainable financing. He stated, 'Our responsibility as senior officials is to ensure that the machinery of regional cooperation functions efficiently, responsibly and with measurable results.' Key issues on the agenda include the financial status of the regional bloc, the Resource Mobilisation Framework, and the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund. Delegates will review progress in priority areas such as food and nutrition security, disaster risk management, and pandemic preparedness, as well as consider institutional and governance matters aimed at enhancing the organisation's effectiveness. Central to discussions is the Mid-Term Review of the Regional Indicative St rategic Development Plan, which guides the region's development agenda between 2020 and 2030. Seokolo emphasized the need for high-impact regional priorities to unlock economic growth, strengthen climate resilience, accelerate industrialisation, and improve infrastructure connectivity. A technical workshop is proposed for June to further develop these flagship priorities. Peace, security, and governance are also key focus areas, with discussions expected on the SADC Regional Framework on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development and Transitional Justice. This framework aims to support countries emerging from conflict by strengthening institutions, fostering reconciliation, and promoting the rule of law. Despite progress in regional cooperation, Seokolo pointed out several gaps hindering development across the region. He noted that intra-regional trade stands at about 23%, and manufacturing contributes only around 11% to the region's gross domestic product. Furthermore, logistical bottlenecks, such as the lengthy transit time for goods from the Port of Durban to the Kasumbalesa border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, remain a concern. Seokolo also raised concerns about the estimated 58 million people in the region facing food insecurity and the large sections of the regional road network that remain unpaved. He remarked, 'These are very uncomfortable questions, but leadership is about discomfort. If we are to realise the aspirations of regional integration, we must move faster, work smarter together, and ensure that our decisions translate into tangible improvements in the lives of the people of our region.' The Standing Committee of Senior Officials is expected to conclude its deliberations by presenting recommendations to the SADC Council of Ministers, which is scheduled to meet in Pretoria next week.