Mauritius reaffirms commitment to SADC Regional Integration and Industrialisation Agenda

Mauritius reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional economic integration and industrialisation during the virtual 35th Meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Trade (CMT) and the 25th Meeting of the Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on Regional Economic Integration of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), held on 12 June 2026.

The meetings, chaired by South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Mpho Parks Franklyn Tau, brought together trade ministers and senior officials from across the region to review progress on trade, industrialisation and economic integration initiatives. Mauritius was represented by the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Hambyrajen Narsinghen.

The CMT reviewed progress in implementing the SADC Protocol on Trade, including issues related to market access, rules of origin, trade facilitation, removal of non-tariff barriers, trade in services, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and technical barriers to trade. Ministers also discussed the impact of global geopolitical developments, including the conflicts in the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine war and unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States, on regional trade and economic growth.

During discussions on the review of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (SISR) 2015–2063, Mr Narsinghen welcomed the progress achieved in integrating industrialisation into regional and national policies, advancing priority value chains and strengthening regional quality infrastructure. He noted, however, that challenges such as infrastructure and energy deficits, limited industrial financing, weak SME participation in regional value chains and coordination gaps continue to hinder progress.

Mauritius supported proposals to update the industrialisation strategy to reflect emerging realities, including implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, digital transformation, climate change challenges, geopolitical developments, energy security concerns and the need for resilient supply chains. The Junior Minister highlighted that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has heightened volatility in global energy and commodity markets, posing particular challenges for Small Island Developing States such as Mauritius that depend heavily on imported fuel and industrial inputs.

The MTF also reviewed progress under the four pillars of the SISR, namely industrialisation, competitiveness, regional integration and cross-cutting issues, and stressed the importance of strengthening intra-SADC trade and investment, fostering innovation and ensuring that regional integration contributes to poverty reduction and improved livelihoods.

Regarding the implementation of the SADC SME Development and Competitiveness Strategy 2025–2029, Mauritius underscored the critical role of small and medium enterprises in driving entrepreneurship, innovation, employment and economic diversification. Mr Narsinghen called for stronger monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, harmonised reporting frameworks and enhanced capacity-building initiatives to support SME development across the region.

Mauritius further proposed the creation of a regional SME implementation dashboard to facilitate monitoring, accountability and the exchange of best practices among Member States. The Junior Minister also informed the Task Force that consultations are underway between the SADC Secretariat and relevant Mauritian Ministries regarding the organisation of a national dissemination workshop on the SADC SME Development and Competitiveness Strategy in the coming months.

Mauritius reiterated its readiness to work closely with fellow Member States and the SADC Secretariat to promote a more prosperous, industrialised and resilient Southern African region through deeper regional cooperation and economic integration.

15 June 2026

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Topics: Foreign Affairs