The SADC Secretariat held a series of meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Madagascar on May 29, 2024, in Antananarivo, to discuss progress on the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and the ratification process for SADC Industry Protocol. The Secretariat delegation was led by Dr Johansein Rutaihwa, Senior Program Officer Industrialisation and Competitiveness. The delegation paid a courtesy visit to Ms. Harifera Rabemanjara, General Director of International Cooperation and SADC National Contact Point (NCP) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the commencement of the main meeting. At the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the delegation was welcomed by the Secretary-General, Ms. Vahinisoa Rasamoely.
During the meeting, the delegation reiterated that the SADC Protocol on Industry, which was approved in 2019, has several objectives, including:
- Promote industrialisation in an equitable and coordinated manner.
- Strengthen national and regional capabilities for industrial policy formulation, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Promote and attract investment in the industrial and related sectors.
- Promote the development of regional collaboration frameworks on matters related to industry.
- Facilitate the development of globally competitive SMMEs.
The Republic of Madagascar signed this Protocol in 2019, and the objective of the meeting was to sensitise the government of Madagascar to ratify it. The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Industry highlighted that Madagascar had achieved support for the industrialisation project from various partners, such as the promulgation of the investment law, the establishment of the industrialisation pact between public and private sectors, the One District One Factory (ODOF) which is a competitiveness enhancement project for the industries in the districts. These programs necessitate Madagascar to ratify the Protocol on Industry, which will promote industrialisation at national and regional levels.
On May 30, 2024, a meeting was also organised with the Private Sector associations in Madagascar to present the purpose of the SADC Protocol on Industry. All these organisations recognised the importance of this Protocol and suggested that the ministries responsible proceed with the ratification process. The private sector also requested that this Protocol be implemented to have a tangible impact on their business.
