By Correspondent Ramadhani Kissimba, Durban
Southern African countries have been urged to accelerate industrialisation by investing in value addition, infrastructure and regional supply chains, as leaders seek to transform the region from a supplier of raw materials into a competitive manufacturing hub.
Opening the 9th SADC Industrialisation Week 2026 in Durban, Executive Secretary Elias Magosi said the region could no longer rely on exporting unprocessed agricultural produce and minerals if it wanted to create jobs, attract investment and build resilient economies.
Instead, he argued, Southern Africa should use its abundant natural resources as the foundation for industries capable of producing higher-value goods for regional and global markets.
“The region has enormous agricultural, mineral and energy resources,” Magosi said. “The priority now is to convert those resources into industrial products that create employment, expand trade and improve people’s livelihoods.”
His remarks come as many SADC member states pursue policies aimed at increasing local processing of minerals and agricultural commodities while reducing dependence on imported manufactured goods.
Magosi stressed that governments alone would not deliver that transformation. Sustainable industrial growth, he said, would require stronger partnerships between the public sector, private investors, financial institutions and development partners.
Such collaboration, he added, would help mobilise investment, improve the competitiveness of regional industries and deepen trade within the SADC bloc.
The Executive Secretary also called for greater investment in transport corridors, reliable energy systems, digital infrastructure and innovation, describing them as essential foundations for industrial expansion. He urged member states to ensure that women and young entrepreneurs are fully integrated into manufacturing and industrial value chains.
This year’s SADC Industrialisation Week is being held under the theme: “Advancing Industrialisation Through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural Transformation and Mineral Beneficiation for an Equitable World.” The theme reflects the region’s growing emphasis on processing its own resources while building economies that are better equipped to withstand global economic shocks and climate-related disruptions.
The five-day event has brought together government leaders, investors, manufacturers, financiers and development partners from across Southern Africa to explore new investment opportunities and strengthen regional industrial cooperation.
Discussions are expected to generate recommendations on improving industrial competitiveness, attracting fresh investment and expanding value addition in agriculture and mining ahead of the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for 17 August 2026 in Durban. For businesses, the message from Durban was clear: the next phase of Southern Africa’s economic growth will depend less on exporting raw materials and more on building industries that add value, create skilled jobs and integrate regional markets.
