SADC and Sweden Strengthen Ties for Regional Development
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr Elias Magosi, welcomed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to the Republic of South Africa and SADC, H.E Mr Håkan Juholt, during the reception of letters of credence on January 17th, 2024.
During the cordial meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, H.E. Magosi reiterated SADC’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with Sweden to enhance regional integration.
Both parties acknowledged the alignment of development priorities, highlighting the synchronization between the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 and the 2022-2026 Swedish Global Development Cooperation on Sustainable Economic Development.
H.E. Juholt updated the SADC Secretariat on Sweden’s recent engagements with the SADC Parliamentary Forum, particularly on issues related to HIV/AIDS and model laws concerning Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). This reflects Sweden’s ongoing support in crucial areas within the SADC region.
The Swedish Embassy also congratulated SADC on the successful elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while expressing concerns about the prevailing peace and security situation in the region.
The SADC Executive Secretary apprised the Embassy of the recent deployment of the SADC Mission in the DRC and appealed for financial support to enhance security and promote peace, particularly in the Eastern part of the DRC.
Emphasizing the urgency of support, the Executive Secretary highlighted critical areas such as industrialization, trade, health, education, climate change, peace and security, and resource mobilization for the implementation of the regional integration agenda.
SADC’s focus is to amplify the results and impact of regional integration, emphasizing the need for collaboration and visibility in coordinating poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
The Swedish Embassy encouraged SADC to foster collaboration among member states, drawing parallels with the successful Nordic Countries model, citing it as a fundamental catalyst for the developed status of nations like Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland.
Both sides committed to collaboration on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights initiatives, with the current Swedish program portfolio in the SADC region exceeding Euro 100 million.
The discussions signal a new chapter in SADC-Sweden relations, with a shared vision for mutual growth, development, and regional stability.
Source: SADC Secretariat
