Luanda - The chairman of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ambassador Nazaré José Salvador defended Tuesday the search for sustainable and inclusive solutions to the challenges linked to the lack of infrastructure and political instability in some regions.
In his first speech, after taking office, he stated that the southern region still faces several threats to peace and stability resulting from tensions between States, terrorism and violent extremism, food insecurity that has caused many victims, in particular children.
Nazaré Salvador was speaking at the meeting that prepares the agenda for the Council of Ministers meeting that precedes the 43rd Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, scheduled for August 17 under the motto, "Human and financial capital": the main factors for the sustainable industrialization of the SADC Region.
The Angolan Nazaré Salvador praised the performance of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) for neutralising and dislodging terrorists from their bases, ensuring security for the return of internally displaced people to their homes, as well as providing humanitarian support and cooperating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, through the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), under the mandate of MONUSCO, in the fight against insurgents.
Also SADC director Office in Angola, the diplomat said that the region registered an average economic growth of 4.8% in 2022, slightly above the 4.7% registered back in 2021 and the regional average inflation rate increased, in 2021, from 14.6% to 22.4% in 2022.
He also referred to a drop in budget deficits in several Member States, to the average increase in public debt levels in the region from 55.9% of GDP in 2021 to 61% in 2022, and that the balance deficit as a percentage of GDP in the region improved slightly from 4.3% of GDP in 2021 to 4.1% of GDP in 2022.
The official also referred to a reduction in budget deficits in several Member States, to the average increase in public debt levels in the region from 55.9% of GDP in 2021 to 61% in 2022, and that the balance deficit as a percentage of GDP in the region improved slightly from 4.3% of GDP in 2021 to 4.1% of GDP in 2022.
He argued that access to credit at affordable prices is one of the main obstacles to development, mainly due to asymmetries of information on the profitability of projects and the lack of guarantees or credit history, as well as underdeveloped financial markets.
He pledged during his one-year mandate to improve the participation of young people and women in several SADC projects, with a view to empowering youth, reducing unemployment and promoting inclusion, and in prominent positions and decision-making, promoting equity in the gender, to build a more resilient and united region.
Nazaré Salvador guarantees commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and efficiency in carrying out its activities, as well as working closely with all member countries, listening to their needs and ideas, so that collective and informed decisions can be made that benefit everyone.
Angola assumes this month the SADC rotating presidency, for a period of one year. JFS/AL/ADR/CF/NIC
