By JULIUS PHIRI –
FOREIGN Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba says the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers is an important forum for the region as it deliberated on important developmental issues within the region.

. Kalaba

Mr Kalaba said the Council of Ministers was a principal advisory body to the Summit on overall policy matters and approves plans, strategies and programmes of work of the SADC.
The Council comprised of all Ministers designated as SADC National Contact persons in Member States and other relevant sectoral Ministers.
According to the statement issued yesterday by Ministry of Foreign Affairs public relations officer, Alick Banda, the minister was speaking during the on-going SADC Council of Ministers Meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe on Friday.
Mr  Kalaba said it was important for the SADC Council to remain steadfast in its advisory role to the summit.
He said the discussions on the current SADC Council of Ministers have focused on the tripartite Free Trade Area, regional industrialisation strategy and roadmap, SADC development cooperation with institutions such as the European Union (EU) and countries such as Russia.
On the SADC-EU cooperation, the Minister indicated that the meeting had been discussing the importance of enhanced cooperation with the EU in regional economic integration and regional political cooperation programmes.
He said the EUs support in peace, security and regional stability as well as the regional natural resources and economic integration, are key to enhancing development in the region.
On SADC- Russia cooperation, Mr Kalaba said cooperation with the Russian Federation was a strategic undertaking for SADC to develop a structured relationship on areas of mutual interest.
He said the meeting was looking at projects currently being implemented under bilateral cooperation with Russia that could be scaled up to become regional flagship projects.
The meeting was also looking at the key issue of regional industrialisation strategy and roadmap on economic and technological transformation of the region, diversification of the industrial base and increased contribution of manufacturing to both Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and employment among others.
The minister was attending the SADC Council of Ministers Meeting with Commerce Trade and Industry minister,  Margaret Mwanakatwe and Deputy Minister of Finance Christopher Mvunga.
The first meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers is normally held in February/March to consider the SADC budget for the next financial year and in August to prepare for the Summit.