The Ambassador of Mexico in South Africa, H.E. Mr. Maurice Escanero, paid a courtesy call on the SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, on 26thApril 2016. The Executive Secretary welcomed Mr. Escanero to the SADC Secretariat, and congratulated him for his appointment as the Ambassador representing Mexico in ten of the SADC Member States.
The Executive Secretary gave an overview of the SADC Region and explained the Region’s priorities for regional integration as outlined in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2015-2020. She further informed Mr. Escanero that SADC has frontloaded Industrialization, through the adoption of the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063, as a major priority for the Regions' development. The Mexican Ambassador, on his part, gave an overview of Mexico, noting that the country is a member of the G20 and would like to boost its relationship with Africa and the SADC region in particular. The meeting discussed investment opportunities in the SADC Region, noting the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063 in conjunction with the SADC Infrastructure Development Master Plan offer trade and investment cooperating opportunities.
The meeting noted that, among other things, Mexico has a unique technology of processing and preserving agricultural products, in particular corn, which is a staple food in most of the SADC Member States, that could be shared with the SADC Region. Both parties agreed to explore ways to enhance cooperation between SADC and the Republic of Mexico on matters of mutual interest.
