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The RegionalEconomicCommunities asECA’s allies2006 SADC Summit of Heads ofState and GovernmentMaseru, Lesotho17–18 August 2006We are gathered here today in furtherance of the SADC vision ofa regional community that will ensure economic well-being, improvedstandards of living, freedom, social justice, peace and securityfor the peoples of southern Africa. This is a lofty vision that ECA solidlyidentifies with.As part of your overall strategy for realising this great vision, the RegionalIndicative Strategic Development Plan was adopted, which, whencombined with the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ on Politics,provides a solid framework for the implementation of the developmentagenda of the community. Your goal is consistent with the African Union’svision of continental integration, and I salute you for the foresight.I am glad that this Summit is taking place in Lesotho, where ECA hasbeen offering various technical services, especially with regards to thedevelopment of the Kingdom’s Science and Technology policy. We haverendered similar services to many other countries in the SADC region,including Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola andSwaziland and will extend the services to other countries upon request.We are meeting here at a time when the Doha Round of talks have brokendown; shattering in its wake the hopes and dreams of a transformedmultilateral trading architecture for Africa. When the negotiations beganfive years ago with record participation of African countries, weIntegrating Africa81