The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Thailand International Co-operation Agency (TICA) have held discussions in Bangkok to forge a strategic framework aimed at advancing industrialisation, agricultural transformation, and sustainable development across southern Africa.

The talks took place during a meeting between SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi and TICA Director-General Chulvat Narinthrangura on the margins of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. Both officials explored establishing a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive knowledge exchange and technical co-operation, drawing on Thailand’s expertise in agricultural value chains, agro-processing, and mineral beneficiation.

Magosi praised Thailand’s ongoing support for regional capacity building through the Third Country Training Programme, which has benefited SADC member states including Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia, while Narinthrangura emphasised that Thai technical assistance could also support the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre in tackling climate challenges such as El Niño-related droughts. Technical teams from both sides are expected to finalise priority areas under the upcoming co-operation framework.

–ChannelAfrica/SADC–