|
South Africa to host Extraordinary SADC Summit Pretoria:
South African President Thabo Mbeki will lead a senior South African government
delegation to the Extraordinary SADC Summit on Regional Integration being hosted
by South Africa at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Gauteng on Monday 23 October 2006. Foreign
Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will lead the South African charge to the meeting
of the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Integration preceding the Summit from
21-22 October 2006. The theme of the Summit is Economic Integration of SADC
and it is expected that all SADC Heads of State and Government will attend. Ministers
of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry and Finance of all SADC member states will
attend the Summit and meeting of the Ministerial Task Force. The Extraordinary
Summit occurs within the context of the appointment of a Task Force of Ministers
responsible for Finance, Investment and Economic Development; Trade and Industry
and the SADC Secretariat, to review: · SADC's regional economic integration
agenda;
· The milestones for achieving the Free Trade Area and SADC
Customs Union;
· Review progress and propose measures for scaling up
implementation of regional integration. The Taskforce on Regional Economic
Integration will present its report to the Summit of Heads of State and Government
on Monday 23 October 2006. The Summit will thus focus on the current status
of implementation of the Free Trade Area (FTA) in terms of the main activities
required to complete the FTA by 2008 as planned for in the Regional Indicative
Strategic Development Plan (RISDP). In addition, the requirements for achieving
a SADC Customs Union will also be considered. as well as macro-economic convergence
in the region. The Extraordinary meeting will also provide Ministers of
Foreign Affairs with a SADC mandate regarding the African Union Government, in
preparation for the African Union process on the matter. Issued by Ronnie
Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
18
October 2006
| 
