Mauritius, August 16th 2004 - What are your goals here at the SADC Summit?

Our main goal is to consolidate the integration of the region. Progress has been made, yet there is still much to be done. We need to move towards a free trade area and move towards the review of the trade protocol.

During the Summit I am pleased to note that debate is quite open and frank, so there is a great atmosphere for dialogue and cooperation.

If there is an economic integration in 2008, do you think that smaller companies will be taken over by bigger and stronger South African corporations?

A free trade area in 2008 might give us little time to correct the imbalances of the free market area, and we will need to work hard make the adjustments needed to reach this target. Ultimately this is the goal we want to reach. Trade and integration will be greatly influenced by the rules of origin that need to be implemented, which we are examining right now within the SADC apparatus.

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Do you agree that democracy is a major problem in Africa?

It is essential to enable the consultation of civil society to allow people to express their opinions, yet I do not see it as a major problem. Each country is in a different situation – some are coming out of conflicts, while others are in more stable situations. Therefore our goal is to gradually move towards common standards and common values.

Do you think that programs like AGOA [the African Growth and Opportunity Act] are helpful for the development of African economies?

Yes, although our major constraints are in the supply side, since there is a huge infrastructure deficit in our region which AGOA itself cannot solve. It is a good program but there needs to be a great deal of investment to make it work. So far, in Mozambique it has been a success, yet there is still much work to be done.

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