The Second Meeting of the SADC Board of Governors of the Project Preparation and Development Facility (PPDF) met in Bulawayo, Republic of Zimbabwe to receive a progress report on the PPDF. The Board of Governors was chaired by Hon. Patrick Chinamasa, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
The Executive Secretary of SADC, H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, in her remarks, underscored the importance of the PPDF as one of the key instruments, capable of unlocking the region's potential and enhancing integration by addressing one of the most critical challenges the region faces, of inadequate infrastructure. "Infrastructure development remains the region's priority in the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, and is also key to successful implementation of the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2020". She said.
In the deliberations, the meeting noted and appreciated the progress made in the implementation of the (PPDF) as an interim measure to address infrastructure development challenges in the SADC Region, and noted that sustainable financing of infrastructure development, depends on the finalization of the SADC Regional Development Fund. The meeting urged Member States to expedite the finalization of the SADC Regional Development Fund, which will then act as a long term solution to Regional Infrastructure development challenges.
