SADC Media Day Sets the Stage for 8th Industrialization Week in Madagascar
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat convened a high-level Media Day in Antananarivo ahead of the official opening of the 8th SADC Industrialization Week (SIW). The session brought together journalists from across Madagascar and the broader region, aiming to equip them with key insights into the region’s industrialization agenda.
The event focused on enhancing media understanding of ongoing SADC programmes, enabling reporters to deliver informed and impactful coverage of the week-long SIW. This year’s theme, “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC”, was presented as a roadmap for sustainable regional growth.
Delivering opening remarks, Hon. David Ralambofiringa, Madagascar’s Minister of Industrialization and Trade, emphasized the importance of shifting SADC economies from reliance on raw material exports to diversified, value-added industries.
“The SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015–2063) is a bold step towards building competitive economies, creating decent jobs, and reducing poverty,” he said.
Ralambofiringa highlighted the strategy’s three foundational pillars: industrialisation-led economic transformation, regional integration to boost competitiveness, and productive capacity building through innovation.
Ms. Angele Makombo N’tumba, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, reaffirmed the region’s commitment to deepening industrial capabilities and building climate-resilient food and energy systems.
She praised the progress made since the adoption of the strategy, including the signing of the SADC Protocol on Industry by eight Member States. “Only three more signatures are needed for it to come into force,” she noted.
The Media Day also marked the official launch of the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme, a EUR 25 million initiative funded by the European Union. Spanning July 2025 to June 2029, ATCMA will be jointly implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
The programme aims to enhance intra-African and EU-Africa trade by improving market access and strengthening the export readiness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Key deliverables include reducing trade barriers, enforcing quality standards, boosting value chain mechanisms, and expanding SME business opportunities.
The 8th SADC Industrialization Week officially opened on 29 July and features dialogues, exhibitions, and policy discussions centered on transforming the region’s economic landscape.
