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SADC formalises relations with business forum
      Efforts to promote private sector participation in regional econom-ic development received a major boost with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between SADC and the Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCCI). The signing took place in August in Windhoek, Namibia, during the 14-member organisation’s annual summit.
      Formed in Mauritius, on 21 October 1999, the association is constituted by a network of national business representative bodies.
      The ASCCI aims to foster policy development and ensure deeper regional integration through trade development. It acts as a link between various chambers of commerce and SADC as well as facilitating the efficient flow 		of information among its members.
      The ASCCI is the latest of many institutions that have been created to bring SADC closer to the people of the region. Efforts to strengthen democracy and governance at a regional level have already seen the creation of institutions such as the SADC Parliamentary Forum and the SADC Electoral Commissions Forum.
      The new business forum adds another voice, this time from the private sector, a key partner in regional development.
      "The formalisation of this relationship is very exciting news and was long overdue considering the importance of trade and investment issues in the region at the moment," said Dr Nhlanhla Masuku, former President of the 		Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) who is also Vice President of the new regional association.
      "The agreement will foster cooperation in promoting regional integration and ensure the achievement of economic growth and development objectives. This will be done through consultation, discussion and collaboration on policy matters, as well as exchange of information on matters of interest," he added.
      With its secretariat in Mauritius, the ASCCI is currently headed by Cader Sayed-Hossen, leader of the Mauritius of Commerce and Industry, who is its President. The secretariat and presidency rotates among member states and will be moving to Zimbabwe at the end of 2001 when Masuku will take over the chair.

First for Namibia

Trade and Investment summit for Windhoek
      The arid Namibian coastal port of Walvis Bay is set to become the first location in sub-Saharan Af-rica to have a large-scale plant provid-ing desalinated sea water for domestic consumption.
      Officials of the US water company, Ionics, which won the tender for construction of the plant, and its South Af-rican partner, Keyplan, said the initial capacity of the plant would be for 13,000 megalitres of drinking water per day for people living in Walvis Bay and other nearby Namib Desert towns situated in one of the driest areas of the African continent. (IRIN)		       Raising the investment profile of the SADC region remains the backbone of development and integration endeavours by national and regional leaders.
      The need to showcase the region’s economic potential forms the basis of the forthcoming International Herald Tribune’s sixth annual Southern Africa Trade and Investment Summit 2000 in Windhoek, Namibia.
      Running from 9 to 11 October 2000, this high level gathering brings together key government, financial and business leaders from southern Africa and beyond.Expected to grace the summit are host President Sam Nujoma, who is also the current chairman of SADC, Presidents Frederick Chiluba of Zambia,		 Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, Festus Mogae of Botswana and Bakili Muluzi of Malawi, as well as Prime Ministers Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini of Swaziland and Pascoal Mocumbi of Mozambique.
      The main issues to be discussed include telecommunications and internet revolution in southern Africa, prospects for investment in the region, investment and financing options as well as analysis of new trading partnerships.
      Also under spotlight are issues relating to energy, job creation, tourism, infrastructure, mining and water.

Tanzania wins gold medals at Expo2000

Angolan refugees in Namibia willing to return
      Tanzania has won two gold medals in two projects among others at the on-going Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, with the theme of ‘human-kind- nature-technology’.
The East Usambara Forests, a component of the East Usambara Catchment Area Management Program (EUCAMP) won the medal.
      The second gold medal was won by the Zanzibar Chumbe Island coral park. Corodius Sawe, representative of the EUCAMP programme said that over 3,000 projects for the exposition had been submitted from 124 countries including seven projects from Tanzania.
       Sawe who is the conservator of Aman Nature Reserve in Muheza District in Tanga region, northeast of Tanzania, said that Expo 2000 has several advantages to Tanzania including pro-motion of ecotourism and establishing links with other international organizations working on nature conservation. The Expo 2000 opened on June 1 and is expected to end on October 11, this year. (IPS)       Some 13,000 Angolan refugees in Namibia’s Cavango region have formally asked the Angolan consulate at Rundu to take them home.
      The Angolan Consul in Cavango region, Joao Pempela, was quoted by the national news agency as saying that some 15,000 Angolans in the region were all willing to go home.
      He said 13,000 have formally written a petition to this effect. But Angolan social welfare Minister Albino Malungo said that there were no adequate conditions at home for the return of refugees at the moment.
      He added that the situation would be discussed at a meeting with his col-leagues of defence, Kundi Payhama, and interior, Fernando da Piedade.

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