President Jacob Zuma will on Friday attend the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Summit in Gaborone, Botswana, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj, has indicated.
The one-day Summit will be attended by Heads of States and Governments of the SACU Member States, including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BNLS).
The purpose of the Summit is to discuss various issues broadly related to regional trade and industrialisation under the Customs Union.
More specifically, the event will appraise progress and outcomes of the five-point programme that was adopted in March 2011.
According to Maharaj, the five points include regional industrialisation, the review of the revenue sharing agreement, trade facilitation, the development of SACU institutions and a unified engagement in trade negotiations.
Other important issues which will be discussed include funding for regional programmes and projects, and industrial collaboration through the development of regional value chains so as to promote complementary industrial development.
In addition, the SACU leaders will also consider collective activities to strengthen investment promotion among their countries.
President Zuma will be accompanied by Ministers of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, Trade and Industry Rob Davies, and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene.
