R E G I O N A L I N D I C A T I V E S T R A T E G I C D E V E L O P M E N T P L A N decision-making positions. Strategies include acceler- private sector; establishment of a Private Sector Unit at the ating the development of explicit gender policies; main- Secretariat; reviewing the capacities of national chambers streaming gender into all SADC policies, programmes and and business associations; and biannual surveys of regional activities; and adopting women's empowerment policies competitiveness and business climate. and strategies. As a priority intervention area, statistics aims at The RISDP recognises the importance of science and providing relevant, timely, accurate and comparable technology in economic development and increasing statistical information for planning, policy formulation, competitiveness. The goal of this priority intervention area implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SADC is to develop and strengthen national systems of inno- integration activities. The strategies for achieving this vation in order to provide scientific and technological goal focus on developing a legal framework for regional solutions to/for sustainable socio-economic development, co-operation in statistics; harmonization of statistical regional integration and poverty eradication. The strategies information; collating, processing and disseminating for achieving this goal focus on strengthening regional co- official statistics; developing indicators for monitoring operation in S&T; developing legal and policy frameworks and evaluating regional integration; and building capacity and programmes to promote regional co-operation in S&T; for national and regional statistical systems. and developing instruments to promote collaboration in S&T between SADC and other organisations. The RISDP focuses on promoting trade, economic liberalisation and development as a means of facilitating The RISDP also recognises the importance of trade and financial liberalization, competitive and information as a resource and a tool for development. The diversified industrial development and increased modern information and communications technology investment through the establishment of a SADC Common revolution, characterised by the high level of development Market. In order to attain this goal, SADC will need to and use computers in all aspects life, is recognised as a accelerate and complete the formation of a free trade key factor for regional integration and development, area; begin negotiations for the establishment of a globalisation and modernization. customs union, which will be followed by a common The RISDP considers Environment and Sustainable market; enhance competitiveness through industrial development as a vehicle to ensure equitable and development and increased productivity in all sectors; sustainable use of the environment and natural resources harmonize policies, legal and regulatory frameworks for for the benefit of present and future generations. As an the free movement of factors of production; and cross-sectoral intervention area Environment and sus- implement policies to attain macroeconomic stability and tainable development will present opportunities for the build policy credibility. region to advance its programme of action in environment The RISDP emphasises co-operation in infrastructure and natural resources management and forge harmon- development in order to ensure the availability of a isation of and compliance to environmental policies, stan- sufficient, integrated, efficient and cost-effective dards and guidelines by pursuing the strategic objectives infrastructure that will support and sustain regional outlined in the RISDP. economic development, trade, investment, agriculture In the private sector development priority inter- and contribute towards poverty eradication. The vention area, the goal is to integrate the private sector in strategies for achieving this goal include: for the policy and strategy formulation and programme imple- Electricity Sub-sector, promoting power pooling through mentation in SADC in order to accelerate and achieve the extension of grid interconnections; and consolidating sustainable regional economic integration and poverty the transformation of the Southern African Power Pool eradication. The relevant strategies focus on institu- (SAPP) from a co-operative to a competitive power pool; tionalisation of public-private sector dialogue; adequate for the Petroleum and Gas Sub-sector, promoting joint representation of the private sector at all relevant exploration and development of resources; and co- decision-making levels in SADC structures; adoption by operation in joint procurement of petroleum products; for SADC of the Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce Tourism, co-operation in marketing and promotion; and and Industry (ASCCI) White Paper as a current regional attracting investment; for Transport and Communications, agenda for dialogue between Member States and the reducing capital, maintenance and operating costs; and