The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in partnership with UNIDO, successfully conducted an Industrial Policy Capacity Building Training from 20 to 22 May 2026 in Windhoek, Namibia. Organised under the African Trade Competitiveness and Market Access Programme (ATCMAP), the training brought together 30 participants from 15 SADC Member States except of Comoros. The ATCMAP, which was launched in August 2025 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). The programme continues to play a catalytic role in enhancing trade competitiveness and market access across African economies, including within the SADC region.
In welcoming participants, appreciation was expressed to the European Union for its invaluable financial contribution to ATCMAP, which has enabled the implementation of programmes to improve productivity, competitiveness, and access to regional and global markets.
The training forms part of ongoing regional efforts to strengthen Member States’ capacity to design and implement effective industrial policies. Industrialisation remains central to SADC’s development priorities. As articulated in the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015–2063), the region aims to transition towards diversified, inclusive, and competitive industrial economies. Achieving this vision requires robust policy frameworks alongside strong institutional and technical capacity. The training was designed to equip participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to develop evidence-based, coherent, and forward-looking industrial policies aligned with regional priorities and global trends.
The active participation of 15 SADC Member States in this workshop reflected a shared regional commitment to advancing industrial transformation and deepening regional integration. The three-day training provided a platform for knowledge sharing, peer learning, and practical engagement, enabling participants to exchange experiences and explore innovative approaches to industrial policy development. More than a technical exercise, the initiative represents a strategic investment in building the region’s collective capacity to drive industrialisation and enhance competitiveness in both regional and global markets.
SADC will continue to leverage partnerships under programmes such as ATCMAP to ensure that Member States are well-equipped to translate regional frameworks into concrete actions and measurable development outcomes.
