The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union (EU) are joining forces to host the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Project Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in Gaborone, Botswana, on November 12-13, 2025. This €25 million initiative, funded by the EU, aims to boost Africa's trade competitiveness and strengthen regional Quality Infrastructure, fostering stronger intra-African and Africa-EU trade ties. The implementing partners, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and International Trade Centre (ITC), will work closely with various stakeholders to achieve these goals.
The workshop's primary objectives are to present the ATCMA program framework, enhance stakeholder engagement, and gather valuable insights for the value chain selection process. It will also identify key stakeholders, beneficiaries, and potential synergies with existing initiatives. By bringing together a diverse group of participants, including the SADC Secretariat team, EU Delegation to Botswana, SADC Business Council, UNIDO Technical team, ITC Technical team, and ATCMA SADC focal points from both the public and private sectors, the workshop aims to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
The ATCMA Program is a flagship initiative of the European Union, designed to promote sustainable and inclusive value chain development in Africa, aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the EU Global Gateway, and the European Green Deal. Implemented jointly by the International Trade Centre and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, ATCMA covers six regions: Continental, East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa (ECCAS), Southern Africa (SADC), and East and Southern Africa (COMESA). This comprehensive approach ensures regional coherence while tailoring interventions to specific contexts.
The SADC component of the ATCMA Program focuses on identifying and promoting priority value chains that can drive sustainable industrialization, enhance regional trade, and foster mutually beneficial partnerships between Africa and the EU. The value chain selection process is a critical analytical foundation for designing ATCMA interventions in the region. With its rich natural resources, the SADC Region has immense potential in value chains, particularly in agro-processing and natural-resource-based industries, with emerging opportunities in sectors like pharmaceuticals and vehicles.
The ATCMAP-SADC Program represents a strong, collaborative commitment by SADC, the European Union, its Member States, and the United Nations to advance regional integration, inclusive industrialization, and sustainable economic development in Southern Africa. It also supports the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap (SISR 2015-2063) and contributes to the realization of the SADC Vision 2050, as well as the African Continental Free Trade Area, AU Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative is a testament to the power of international cooperation in driving positive change and progress in Africa.
