Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Gaborone, Botswana, for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Summit.
The purpose of the one-day summit, attended by Heads of State and Governments of the SACU member states -- including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BNLS) -- is to discuss various issues broadly related to regional trade and industrialisation, under the auspices of the customs union.
More specifically, the event will appraise progress and outcomes with regard to the five-point programme adopted in March 2011. The five points include regional industrialisation; the review of the revenue sharing agreement; trade facilitation; the development of SACU institutions and a unified engagement in trade negotiations.
Other important issues which will be discussed include funding for regional programmes and projects, and industrial collaboration through the development of regional value chains so as to promote complementary industrial development.
In addition, the SACU leaders will also consider collective activities to strengthen investment promotion among their countries.
The President will be accompanied by Ministers of Finance Pravin Gordhan, Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies and Deputy Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene. – SAnews.gov.za
