Regional community: Jean Michel Sama Lukonde officially launches the 6th annual week of industrialization of the Sadc
Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde officially launched, on Tuesday August 2, the 6th annual industrialization week of the Community of Southern African States (Sadc), in the performance hall of the People's Palace, in Kinshasa.
These meetings scheduled for August 2 to 6 have the theme: "promoting industrialization through agro-processing, mineral development and regional value chains for inclusive and resilient economic growth".
"This theme concerns us with regard to the natural resources available to our country.
It needs investments and infrastructure to enable it to draw dividends from its resources", declared the Prime Minister who invited the industrialists who came to attend the conference to explore the opportunities offered by the DRC.
For his part, the Minister of Regional Integration and Francophonie, Didier Mazenga Mukanzu, welcomed the choice of the theme deemed to be a catalyst at the time of President Félix Tshisekedi's taking office at the head of the Sadc, a theme that coincides with one of the pillars of the program of the Congolese Head of State.
Julien Paluku Kahongia, Minister of Industry, noted that the 6th annual industrialization week of the Sadc marks the will of the states of the said regional community to boost their development forward.
From now on, he insisted, let us transform our agri-food products by putting in place public policies allowing the DRC to become the supplier of other countries and not to remain their outlet.
"We will no longer be the market of others. We must identify the problems of others to be able to provide solutions", said Julien Paluku.
It should be noted that this year's sessions will focus on SADC value chains and priority sectors to promote regional trade and industrialization, in particular; Gas and energy, update of the ZLEC (Continental Free Trade Area), agro-processing, pharmaceutical products, possibility of infrastructure financing, public-private partnerships and digitization, circular economy, trade facilitation,…
The recommendations and outcomes of this event will be included in the ISF statement to be presented to the SADC Council of Ministers, a body that determines policy discussions for Heads of State for action.
SADC Industrialization Week is an annual public-private engagement platform aimed at promoting new opportunities for intra-African trade and investment.
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