President Jacob Zuma will on Friday attend the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) Summit in Gaborone, Botswana.
The one-day summit will be attended by Heads of State and Governments of the Sacu member states, which include South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.
The summit will discuss various issues related to regional trade and industrialisation, under the customs union.
“More specifically, the event will appraise progress and outcomes with regard to the five-point programme that was adopted in March 2011. 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,” said the Presidency.
Other important issues to be discussed include funding for regional programmes and projects, and industrial collaboration through the development of regional value chains to promote complementary industrial development.
In addition, the SACU leaders will also consider collective activities to strengthen investment promotion among their countries.
The President will be accompanied by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies and Deputy Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.