JOHANNESBURG, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Industrialization Week kicked off in Durban, South Africa, on Monday, with a focus on advancing regional industrialization and strengthening value chains.
Addressing the opening of the event, South African Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau called for greater efforts to develop regional value chains, upgrade economic infrastructure and remove trade barriers.
Tau said the Southern Africa region has for too long relied on exporting raw materials while importing finished products, a pattern that has constrained industrial development and job creation.
"Industrializing our critical minerals gives us a chance to change that trajectory. It means moving from extraction to beneficiation, advanced manufacturing and integrated regional value chains. It requires investment in infrastructure, technology and skills, and closer regional policy cooperation," Tau said.
Tau noted that the meeting comes amid geopolitical fragmentation and disruptions to global supply chains, adding that the changing global environment also presents opportunities for the region to accelerate industrial development through infrastructure, agriculture and the transformation of critical minerals.
Acknowledging slow progress in implementing the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap adopted in 2015, Tau cited declining donor funding as one of the challenges, stressing that the region "must drive our own agenda and pursue partnerships that support beneficiation and value addition at source."
Regarded as one of the region's largest public-private platforms for industrial development, the event will run from Monday to Friday, bringing together policymakers, business leaders, investors and other stakeholders to promote regional industrialization. ■