Economic Growth Key To Reducing Poverty In SADC Region
Economic growth and pro-active social policies are essential to fighting poverty
in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, and economic growth
can be achieved by accelerating the removal of barriers to the flow of goods,
services, capital and labour, the Mauritian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
and Economic Development, Rama Sithanen told the press last week. This statement was made during the media launch of preparations for the forthcoming
SADC International Conference on Poverty and Development, to be held in Mauritius
on April 20th. The Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salamao was
also present on that occasion. The SADC Free Trade Area, which will be launched in August of this year, will facilitate
the regional integration process and can play a significant role in poverty
reduction in the region, Deputy Prime Minister Sithanen added. The Executive Secretary of SADC underlined the importance of the organisation
of the International Conference on Poverty and Development, revealing that 45% of the population
in the SADC live in abject poverty. This is reflected in social indicators
such as high levels of malnutrition, illiteracy, unemployment, underemployment,
declining life expectancy and unsatisfactory access to basic services. Dr Salamao added that preparations for the Poverty Conference are at an advanced
stage, and that national and regional consultation meetings have taken place,
with the active participation of different stakeholders. Some 500 to 600 delegates are expected to attend the Conference, and the theme
is “Regional Economic Integration: A strategy for Poverty Eradication
towards Sustainable Development.” .
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