The head of Angolan diplomacy has started to assume the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), for 12 months led by the Minister of Regional Integration and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Téte António took office at the meeting preceding the 43rd Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of SADC. This Summit will take place in Luanda on August 17 under the theme: “Human and financial capital: The key drivers for sustainable industrialisation of the SADC Region”.
Angola assumes the presidency of the regional organization for the third time, after 2002-2003 and 2011-2012.
“I am thus pleased to assume the rotating presidency of the SADC Council of Ministers, after it was exercised with pride and dedication by His Excellency Antipas Nyamwisi, Minister of Regional Integration and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Téte António, quoted in a Foreign Affairs press release.
The Angolan Foreign minister highlighted the leadership of his predecessor who “inspired the continuity of the promotion of industrialization and agro-processing of pharmaceutical products, mineral beneficiation and value chains”.
The opening session of the SADC Council of Ministers was attended by representatives of the 16 member States of the organization, gathered to review the various documents submitted by senior officials of the Committee of Experts of the regional institution.
The 43rd ordinary summit of the Heads of State and Government of the regional organization is being held under the theme “Human and Financial Capital: Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialization in the SADC Region”.
“Over the next 12 months, the Angolan presidency will jointly focus on human and financial capital as catalysts for industrialization,” the statement said. SADC has as member states Angola, South Africa, Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.