Pretoria - International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, is participating in the meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers in Gaborone, Botswana.
Some of the pertinent issues to be discussed during the two-day meeting include a progress report on the review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and Regional Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on Monday.
The SADC RISDP and Regional Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap is aligned to the African Union's Agenda 2063.
The RISDP 2015-2020 will guide the implementation of SADC programmes in the next five years and will focus on industrial development and market integration; infrastructure in support of regional integration, peace and security cooperation and special programmes of a regional dimension.
The ministers will also look into the SADC – EU Political Dialogue, as well as measures to mitigate natural disasters.
The SADC Council of Ministers is a statutory meeting which convenes annually to consider the political and administrative work of the regional institution.
SADC is the primary vehicle used by the sub-region to promote balanced and equitable integration among its member states, and to achieve sustainable development.
South Africa is one of 15 member states of SADC and is currently the outgoing Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Other member states include Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. – SAnews.gov.za
