On the 30th of August 2022, Development Reimagined in partnership with the African Union Permanent Mission to China organized a hybrid closed-door roundtable discussion “Sub-Regional Discussion for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and China on Regional Infrastructure Projects Under the African Union’s Program for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA).”
The hybrid event brought together more than 50 participants – some in-person at the AU Embassy in Beijing whilst others joined virtually. Participants in attendance included SADC African ambassadors to China, Chinese stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, and country-level state-owned and private enterprises. Moreover, African investment partners were present including the New Development Bank, Development Bank of Southern Africa, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
The roundtable gave the SADC region states a chance to give an update of their priority projects, finances, successes and challenges that they have encountered in the course of construction. The ministers also brought us up to speed on any new developments and changes in priority projects since the last Special Dialogue on the African Union’s Program for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA) held in April 2022.
All investment partners present contributed to the fruitful discussion by explaining the projects they are currently involved in and those they have been involved in – going even further to explain their benefits. At the tail end, there was a lively question and answer session by current and potential Chinese stakeholders interested in the PIDA projects in the SADC region. Lastly, the SADC ministers agreed that there must be communication, collaboration, and cooperation amongst themselves to advance regional projects.
September 2022
