Southern Africa’s industrialisation agenda gained significant momentum on Day Two of the 9th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Industrialisation Week, with government leaders, industry, development finance institutions and research organisations advancing practical solutions to unlock manufacturing growth, strengthen regional value chains and drive investment across the region.
EThekwini Municipality has welcomed the strong progress emerging from the summit, currently underway in Durban, where stakeholders are moving beyond policy discussions towards actionable interventions aimed at transforming the region’s industrial landscape, enhancing trade competitiveness and creating sustainable economic opportunities.
The week-long summit, hosted at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and Durban Exhibition Centre precinct, has brought together government leaders, regional institutions, development finance organisations, researchers and private sector stakeholders from across Southern Africa to deepen collaboration on industrial development and regional economic integration.
Day Two of the programme focused on practical opportunities to expand regional manufacturing capacity, promote beneficiation, strengthen food security, support pharmaceutical localisation and unlock investment in strategic mineral value chains.
A major highlight was the Agriculture and Agro-processing Stream, where experts from the African Export-Import Bank, Agricultural Research Council, Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region, Tiger Brands Limited and the SADC Secretariat explored strategies to increase value addition from agricultural production through to manufacturing and export markets. Discussions also examined opportunities in the timber, furniture, pulp and paper industries, as well as the fruit value chain, with a strong emphasis on rural industrialisation, skills development, economic diversification and job creation.
The Critical Minerals Stream reflected growing regional momentum to position Southern Africa as a global hub for battery production, mineral beneficiation and advanced manufacturing. Representatives from the Council for Geoscience, the South African Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the International Trade Centre and the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa explored investment opportunities, policy alignment and financing mechanisms required to convert the region’s vast mineral wealth into higher-value industrial products.
In the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Technology Stream, participants from Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited, the Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the SADC Accreditation Service, UNIDO, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition focused on localisation, supply chain resilience, regulatory cooperation and inclusive industrialisation.
The discussions underscored the importance of strengthening regional pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and reducing dependence on imported medicines and medical technologies.
Across all sessions, delegates reinforced the urgent need for coordinated infrastructure investment, harmonised regional policies, innovation-driven growth, skills development and improved access to development finance to accelerate industrialisation and regional economic integration.
Opening the summit on Monday, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba highlighted Durban’s strategic role in advancing Africa’s industrial and trade ambitions.
“EThekwini is proud to host the 9th SADC Industrialisation Week. As the gateway to Africa, Durban stands ready to support regional industrialisation through world-class infrastructure, stronger partnerships and increased investment,” said Mayor Xaba.
Mayor Xaba also called on African countries to accelerate implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by removing trade barriers and improving infrastructure connectivity to unlock inclusive economic growth across the continent.
As the summit progresses, eThekwini Municipality remains encouraged by the substantial progress being made in advancing regional value chains, manufacturing localisation, mineral beneficiation and cross-border industrial cooperation.
The Municipality believes the outcomes emerging from SADC Industrialisation Week are helping to lay the foundation for a more integrated, competitive and resilient regional economy that can attract investment, creating sustainable jobs and delivering long-term prosperity for the people of Southern Africa.
