SADC regional infrastructure development master plan launched
The British High Commission in Botswana hosted a one-day investment forum on infrastructure development in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
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The British High Commission in Botswana recently hosted a one-day Investment Forum on infrastructure development in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The forum, which was held in London on 13 March, raised awareness within the British business community of the scale and range of infrastructure projects envisaged across the Southern Africa region as set out in the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP). Over 50 British businesses signed up to attend the Forum.
The RIDMP, which was launched in 2012 and developed with UK Department for International Development (DFID) support, aims to address the critical gaps in Southern Africa’s infrastructure and is a critical element of the African Free Trade Initiative (AFTI). The three stage plan covers six priority sectors – energy, transport, ICT, meteorology, water and tourism. The High Commission, in partnership with the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) regional office in Pretoria, contracted Ernst & Young to identify a list of top SADC infrastructure projects. This has been published in one document and provides a detailed assessment of the feasibility of each project. It lists key national and SADC contacts and document relevant international/development finance institutions and contacts.
British High Commissioner to Botswana Nick Pyle, travelled to London for the event with other British Heads of Missions in the region, as well as UKTI and DFID officials. The SADC delegation was made up of SADC member states and Secretariat senior officials led by Paulo Zucula the Mozambican Minister of Transport. He was accompanied by the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Eng. J. Caholo.
British High Commissioner Nick Pyle said: “The UK has strong political, diplomatic and commercial links with all SADC countries and with SADC as an organisation but we are keen to strengthen our partnership. One of the main objectives of the Forum is to make UK companies aware of the business opportunities in the SADC region in the field of infrastructure. That over 50 British Businesses have signed up to attend the Forum shows the level of interest in the Master Plan.”
If you attended the event or were interested in the event but could not attend please complete this short survey before May 27, 2013.
For more information on the SADC regional ifrastructure development master plan please contact:
Thibaud Kurtz
Regional Affairs Officer
British High Commission
Gaborone, Botswana
Telephone: +267 3952841
email: thibaud.kurtz@fco.gov.uk or bhc@botsnet.bw
or
Corin Wilson (Mr)
Trade & Investment Advisor
UK Trade & Investment - Johannesburg
Dunkeld Corner
75 Jan Smuts Avenue
Dunkeld West 2196
Telephone: +270 11 537 7209
email: corin.wilson@fco.gov.uk