ANNEXES ANNEX 1 CO-OPERATION ON INVESTMENT PREAMBLE The High Contracting Parties: COMMITTED to achieving the broad objectives of the SADC as set out in the Treaty and specifically to achieving economic growth and sustainable development through regional integration and working through IPAs in the Region; RECOGNISING the increasing importance of the role played by investment to advance productive capacity and increase economic growth and sustainable development and the importance of the link between investment and trade; CONCERNED with the low levels of investment into the SADC, even though a number of measures have been taken to improve the investment environment; AIMING to create new employment opportunities and improve living standards in our territories; ACKNOWLEDGING that there is a need for greater regional cooperation among IPAs in the Region in order to enhance the attractiveness of the Region as An investment destination; CONSCIOUS that without effective policies on investment protection and promotion, the Region will continue to be marginalised in terms of investment inflows and sustainable economic development; and WISHING to be guided by the ideals, objectives and spirit of the Protocol in the facilitation and stimulation of investment flows and technology transfer and innovation into the Region HEREBY AGREE as follows: 26