The Economic Development Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, and the SADC Secretariat, organized a capacity-building workshop on Thursday, 24 October 2024, for local ICT operators. The workshop aimed to explore business opportunities arising from the SADC Protocol on Trade in Services, which came into force on 13 January 2022.
Experts from the SADC Secretariat presented the various commitments made by member states to create a single regional market for services. These commitments span the four modes of supply: cross-border trade, consumption abroad, commercial presence, and the presence of natural persons. They cover six priority sectors: Financial Services, Communication, Tourism, Transport, Construction, and Energy-related services.
The successful completion of the first round of negotiations, which led to the enforcement of the Trade in Services Protocol, provides ICT operators with a predictable legal environment to enter SADC countries. This development unlocks access to new markets, networks, and clients. Market liberalization and legal predictability within the SADC region are expected to enhance the region’s attractiveness for trade and investment, strengthen service capacity, encourage coopetition, and attract more foreign direct investment.
Furthermore, this will foster an environment where ICT services can flow more freely, partnerships can thrive, and there is greater movement of professionals. The Protocol, which took considerable time to develop, represents a significant step forward in opening new markets and advancing our Africa strategy agenda.
The second round of SADC trade in services negotiations is currently ongoing and will cover both Business Services and Distribution Services. ICT operators who attended the workshop had the opportunity to provide their recommendations directly to the SADC experts, suggesting ways to facilitate market access and remove constraints for increased business within the SADC region.
