FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18 August 2026
AL JAMA-AH PUSHES FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND TRADE EXPANSION FOLLOWING SADC SUMMIT
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA — Hon. Al Jama-ah President and Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ganief Hendricks, attended the closing ceremony of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Durban on Monday evening. The summit concluded with the signing of several key legal and economic instruments aimed at deepening regional integration across the 16 SADC member states.
The proceedings aligned directly with the opening address by SADC Chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who urged member states to accelerate regional industrialisation by adding value to agricultural and mineral resources, while calling for strategic investments in regional infrastructure to enhance trade and connect Southern African communities.
A major highlight of the adopted agreements is a new framework designed to ease regional travel and touring across all 16 SADC nations, opening up unprecedented opportunities for cross-border commerce, tourism, and business mobility.
In line with these regional milestones, AL JAMA-AH is actively championing intra-African business empowerment through its AL JAMA- AH AMANAH Business Chamber. The Party is collaborating with business entities and chambers in Botswana—the first African nation empowered
by government mechanisms to grant foreign loans—to drive cross-border financial and commercial synergies.
While trade facilitation remains a priority, AL JAMA-AH emphasizes that regional industrialization will be the core driver of economic liberation for Southern Africa. To pioneer this vision, the AL JAMA-AH AMANAH Business Chamber has placed two strategic infrastructure initiatives at the top of its agenda:
1. A SADC Regional Shipping Line: Establishing dedicated maritime routes to boost inter-regional trade, reduce logistics costs, and link SADC economies more efficiently.
2. Strategic Pipeline Development at Durban Harbour: Harnessing critical infrastructure corridors at the Port of Durban—including the potential repurposing or development of pipeline networks—to streamline fuel and bulk transport across the inland trade corridors.
“Regional industrialization is no longer optional; it is the backbone of economic sustainability for SADC,” stated Hon. Ganief Hendricks. “Through the AL JAMA-AH AMANAH Business Chamber, we are moving beyond policy talk to real enterprise—connecting business corridors from Botswana to Durban Harbour to ensure our regions trade, transport, and grow together.”
AL JAMA-AH calls on regional business leaders, trade organizations, and SADC partners to join hands in realizing these strategic infrastructure and commercial ventures.
ENDS
Media Contact: Sinazo Mtshengu 078 512 3186