Costed Action Plan for SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap
b) Private-Public Interface
Without close public-private collaboration in the realm of industrial policy, there is
a danger that policymakers will launch well-intentioned but poorly designed or
even ill-advised industrialization strategies. Textbook learning or donor advice is
no substitute for in-house and first-hand knowledge, experience of technological,
and market conditions. The “discovery” process in value chain policymaking is
heavily reliant on close co-operation between the public and private sectors.
Improved management information on both sides is crucial to efficient and
effective decision making.
c) Constraints
The national reports and case studies consulted pinpoint infrastructure – both
physical (hard) and institutional and scope economies (soft) – as critical
constraints in value chain development. In agriculture value chain developed is
impeded by poor transport, storage and marketing facilities, along with
insufficient or tardily available information. Similarly, the case studies highlight
the scarcity of essential skills and invariably finance.
3.8
Policy-mix in Support of Value Chain Participation
The Strategy proposes a stronger focus on ensuring that macroeconomic policies
support inclusive growth, economic diversification, enhanced competitiveness, and
promote regional integration. This will require private sector investment in the productive
sectors of national and the regional economy, in close coordination and cooperation
with Member States.
To this end the specific actions proposed are the following:
(i) Ministries and departments responsible for trade and industry and the relevant
fiscal and monetary authorities should consult closely on the use of
macroeconomic and industrial policy instruments to facilitate accelerated
industrial development.
(ii) That Member States put in place macroeconomic policy regimes that aim at
achieving inclusive growth; economic diversification and competitiveness; deeper
regional integration; and macroeconomic policy convergence.
(iii) The key policy recommendation of value-chain development is working with and
supporting industry players and investors to occupy higher value-adding
segments of the production chain. In that regard, the IUMP is an important tool
in supporting the development of productive capacity, enhancing the
competitiveness of SMEs and the strengthening of regional value chains.
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