SADC Business Council

We officially kicked off SADC Industrialisation Week 2024 yesterday with the official Media Awareness Day. SADC Industrialisation Week is co-organised by the SADC Business Council, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Zimbabwe, the SADC Secretariat, and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries. Follow us here for more updates! #SIW2024 #SADCIndustrialisationWeek 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dDQHnXdg

We are excited that our CEO, Peter Varndell, will once again join as an Intra-African Trade Fair Ambassador! With over 20 years of experience in infrastructure development, Peter has led impactful projects in the transport, energy, and water sectors. His leadership in public-private partnerships, including the North-South Corridor Rail Project, reflects his dedication to Africa's socio-economic growth. #IATF2025 #IATF2025Ambassadors #IntraAfricanTrade

Yesterday we hosted an insightful session on circular economy initiatives in the region. The session, which took place at SADC Industrialisation Week, was led by Peter Varndell and Trudi Hartzenberg. During the session, Peter highlighted the SADC Business Council's efforts in implementing circular economy practices, particularly focusing on plastics. He emphasised the importance of local implementation, mentioning a pilot Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) project in Lusaka, Zambia. He stressed the Business Council's role as an umbrella organisation for countries that may not have dedicated EPR or waste management associations. Trudi provided a comprehensive overview of the circular economy landscape, particularly concerning plastics and trade. She discussed the ongoing negotiations for a UN treaty to end plastic pollution, emphasising the potential for Africa to speak with one voice on trade and climate issues. She also delved into South Africa's plastics industry, its economic significance, and the country's efforts in waste management and recycling. The session touched on crucial aspects such as the Basel Convention's impact on plastic waste trade, the need for improved waste classification in international trade systems, and the potential role of trade agreements in regulating plastic production and waste management. This discussion underscored the complex interplay between environmental concerns, economic opportunities, and trade regulations in the context of circular economy initiatives in the SADC region. SADC Industrialisation Week is co-organised by the SADC Business Council, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Zimbabwe, the SADC Secretariat, and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries. #SIW2024 #SADCIndustrialisationWeek #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #EPR

HAPPENING NOW! SADC Industrialisaion Week 2024: Entrepreneurship Dialogue among Youth and Women in the SADC Region Women and youth play a pivotal role in entrepreneurship development in the SADC region, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, through its Cooperation for the Enhancement of SADC Regional Economic Integration (CESARE) programme, is committed to enhancing the participation of women and youth in business and trade in the SADC region. SADC Secretariat, through CESARE, a programme funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU) participated in the “Entrepreneurship Dialogue among Youth and Women in the SADC Region” session during the SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) on the 30th July in Harare, Zimbabwe. The primary objective of this session was to explore the role of youth and women entrepreneurs in driving innovation and sustainable economic growth in the SADC region, identify the challenges faced by women and youth entrepreneurs, and propose actionable solutions to support and scale up their ventures. The dialogue also provided insights into the policies and frameworks needed to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship among these critical population groups. GIZ’s CESARE programme commends the SADC Secretariat for promoting entrepreneurship among women and youth in the SADC region as a contribution to the region's economic transformation and industrialisation. ♀ Through GIZ’s CESARE programme, the Industrialisation and Women Economic Empowerment (IWEE) project has equipped more than 2,700 women across the SADC region with essential skills in business management, finance, and product development. The IWEE project has also provided financial support to 14 non-profit organisations across 14 SADC Member States, helping women to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and revive their businesses. These efforts align with the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (SISR), which focuses on key value chains to drive growth, value addition, and inclusive economic prosperity across the region. Together, we are paving the way for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. 🌐 🤝 #SADCIndustrialisationWeek #Entrepreneurship #Youth #Women #EconomicGrowth #CESARE #BMZ #EU #SIW2024

Day 3 of SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) 2024 included a comprehensive review of the 2022 SIW Declaration, highlighting significant progress in key areas such as mining, regional infrastructure, and tourism. These updates were delivered by Peter Varndell, Executive Secretary of the SADC Business Council and CEO of the NEPAD Business Foundation. Notably, he mentioned that the Regional Gas Master Plan was endorsed by SADC Heads of State in 2023, marking a historic milestone for economic development. Following this update, Eng. VICENTE SOARES delivered powerful remarks as the outgoing Chair of the SADC Business Council. He stressed the importance of digital transformation, green economy transition, and inclusive growth for the region's future. Soares powerfully emphasised, "There is no development without industrialisation, and there is no industrialisation without the active role of the Private Sector." These insightful speeches underscore the collaborative efforts driving SADC's industrialisation agenda and remind us of the private sector's critical role in shaping our region's prosperous future. SADC Industrialisation Week is co-organised by the SADC Business Council, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Zimbabwe, the SADC Secretariat, and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries. #SIW2024 #SADCIndustrialisationWeek2024 #RegionalDevelopment #PrivateSectorEngagement #SADCIndustrialisationWeek #SADC #Trade #Industrialisation

Outgoing Chair of the SADC Business Council, Eng. Vincente Soares, highlighted the ongoing challenge of non-tariff barriers to trade at #SADCIndustrialisationWeek. Addressing these barriers is crucial for regional industrialisation. #SADC #Trade #Industrialisation

Day 2 of the #SIW (7th SADC Industrial Week)was a resounding success! It was a pleasure connecting with the host, Hon. Mangaliso Ndhlovu, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Zimbabwe, and his Deputy, Hon. Raj Modi. Their exceptional leadership and coordination made this event truly unforgettable. Kudos to the entire team! The day was further elevated by the presence of Vice President of Zimbabwe, Gen (Rtd) CDGN Chiwenga. His participation added significant weight to the discussions and proceedings. Looking forward to the continued success of the #SIW and the positive impact it will have on the region's industrial growth! #SADCIndustrialWeek #Zimbabwe #Industrialization #RegionalGrowth" SADC Business Council SADC Secretariat Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Zimbabwe Investment & Development Agency - ZIDA Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu Wamkele Mene

Our focus for this 7th edition is to explore how innovation can drive business growth, entrepreneurial success, and industrialisation in the SADC region, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic development. #SADC #RegionaIntegration #Industrialisation SADC Secretariat

In Harare on behalf of SADC Business Council which is hosted by the NEPAD Business Foundation. We're about to kick off the media engagement part of the programme at the Media Awareness Day. SADC Industrialisation Week is co-organised by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Zimbabwe and the SADC Secretariat, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries and SADC Business Council. Pop around at our stand for a chat this week if you're attending #SIW2024 #SADCIndustrialisationWeek

The SADC Secretariat in partnership with the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, the SADC Business Council and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), will host the 7th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) from 28th July to 2nd August 2024 in Harare, Zimbabwe. The event will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre, under the theme "Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth and Development Towards an Industrialised SADC." The SADC Industrialisation Week is the largest public-private platform and consultative body for industrialisation in the SADC region. It provides a platform on annual basis for SADC Member States, the private sector, international partners, policymakers, researchers, SMEs, financial institutions, and civil society to share experiences on driving industrialisation and economic transformation in the region. The week-long event will feature seminars, meetings, workshops, a gala dinner, exhibitions, and site visits to some selected manufacturing facilities and industrial hubs in Zimbabwe. The key focus areas include mineral beneficiation, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure development, women and youth entrepreneurship, and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) enterprises. This annual event aims to intensify multi-stakeholder engagement in implementing the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063 with a key focus on reviewing progress and challenges in executing the SADC Industrialisation Strategy, as well as sharing success stories and solutions for developing robust regional value chains across priority sectors within the SADC Region. The 2024 edition follows successful SIWs hosted by the Kingdom of Eswatini, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, and United Republic of Tanzania since commencement in 2016.Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Southern African Development Community Secretariat SADC Business Council Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade Ministry of Industry and Trade