9th SADC Industrialisation Week 2026

Durban, South Africa | 27–31 July 2026 

The 9th SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) 2026, held in Durban, South Africa, from 27–31 July, brought together governments, private sector leaders, development partners, academia, researchers and businesses from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to advance regional industrialisation, strengthen economic integration and foster sustainable economic growth. 

Held under the theme of driving sustainable industrial growth, accelerating regional integration, and fostering high-impact public-private partnerships capable of unlocking competitive cross-border value chains, this year's event reaffirmed the region's commitment to building a competitive, resilient and inclusive industrial economy.

With the support of the German Government and the European Union, German Cooperation through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH partnered with the SADC Secretariat and the SADC Business Council to co-host four strategic sessions addressing key priorities for regional economic transformation:

• Advancing regional manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and improving access to affordable, quality medical products through demand consolidation.  
• Strengthening the role of Business Support Organisations in enabling businesses to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  
• Promoting economic corridors as catalysts for regional trade and industrialisation.  
• Addressing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to improve market access and facilitate inclusive regional trade.

These discussions highlighted practical solutions to deepen regional integration, improve the business environment and strengthen regional value chains. 

In her closing remarks, Ms. Angele Makombo N'tumba, Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration at the SADC Secretariat, emphasised the region's collective potential: "SADC has not only the natural resources, but also innovation, partnerships, and determination required to build a more prosperous and industrialised region." 

Mr. Khulekani Mathe, Chairperson of the SADC Business Council and CEO of Business Unity South Africa, underscored the importance of partnerships in delivering sustainable industrial development: "Sustainable industrial development cannot be achieved by governments alone. Strong partnerships with the private sector, development finance institutions and development partners remain essential for accelerating regional industrial priorities." 

Turning Partnerships into Regional Impact 

A strong example of these partnerships is the Cooperation for the Enhancement of SADC Regional Economic Integration (CESARE) Programme, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Government and co-funded by the European Union under the Global Gateway initiative. 

Working closely with the SADC Secretariat, CESARE supports the implementation of SADC's industrialisation and regional integration agenda by promoting trade facilitation, AfCFTA implementation and industrial development. The programme expands opportunities for private sector participation across strategic regional value chains – including Leather, PharmaMedTech and Agro-processing – while supporting regional production of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) commodities. 

Delivering Tangible Results

The partnership between the German Government, the European Union and SADC continue to deliver measurable impact across the region. Key achievements include:

• 45 of 54 identified Non-Tariff Barriers resolved (83%), improving regional market access.
• More than 27,000 electronic Certificates of Origin issued, saving businesses approximately EUR 19 million in trade costs through digital trade facilitation.  
• Over EUR 4 million mobilised from public and private partners to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing and improve access to affordable, quality-assured medicines and SRHR commodities.  
• The Botswana Leather Association expanded from 20 to 130 members, strengthening collaboration, market access and competitiveness within the regional leather sector. 

The outcomes of the 9th SADC Industrialisation Week reaffirm that sustainable industrialisation depends on strong regional partnerships, an enabling business environment and increased private sector participation. 

Through continued collaboration between the SADC Secretariat, the German Government, the European Union and regional stakeholders, programmes such as CESARE are helping transform policy into action, creating new trade opportunities, strengthening regional value chains and supporting a more competitive, industrialised and prosperous Southern Africa.