The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the SADC Business Council, will host the 9th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) from 27–31 July 2026 at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Held under the theme, “Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World”, the event will serve as a high-level precursor to the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government. The SIW is the region’s premier public-private platform for advancing industrial development, promoting investment, strengthening regional integration and accelerating economic transformation.
The week-long programme will bring together policymakers, business leaders, investors, academia, researchers, development finance institutions and other strategic stakeholders from across the SADC region and beyond. It will provide a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, partnership building and the identification of practical solutions to advance industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
His Excellency Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, will deliver the keynote address as Guest of Honour. The event will also be graced by His Excellency Mr. Elias Magosi, the SADC Executive Secretary, Ministers, senior government officials, business leaders and other distinguished stakeholders from the region and beyond.
The SADC Industrialisation Week contributes to the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2063), which is anchored on three strategic pillars: industrialisation, competitiveness and regional integration. The Strategy aims to enhance regional productive capacities, promote value addition and beneficiation, strengthen industrial competitiveness and foster the development of integrated and competitive regional value chains.
The 2026 edition of the SIW will focus on key strategic priorities, including:
Strengthening regional value chains in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and critical minerals beneficiation;
Promoting infrastructure development in energy, transport, logistics, water and information and communication technologies (ICT);
Mobilising investment and fostering industrial partnerships;
Advancing women and youth empowerment, innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation.
The programme will feature high-level policy dialogues, technical sessions, strategic discussions, seminars, workshops and stakeholder engagements focusing on industrialisation, trade, investment, infrastructure development, energy, regional value chains and private sector development.
The SADC Industrialisation Week provides an important platform for Member States, the private sector, development finance institutions and partners to address constraints affecting regional production systems, unlock investment opportunities and advance measures that support resilient, inclusive and sustainable industrial growth.
Through the SIW, SADC continues to reaffirm its commitment to deepening regional cooperation, accelerating economic integration and promoting industrial transformation as a foundation for job creation, enhanced competitiveness and shared prosperity across the region.
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