Harare - Angolan university professor Carlos Francisco is part of the panel discussion of the SADC Public Lecture to be presented this Thursday in Harare, as part of the preparations for the 44th ordinary summit of this regional bloc scheduled for the 17th of this month.

Under the motto 'Capacity building in research and innovation ecosystems for a sustainable SADC industrialized economy', the event will take place at the University of Zimbabwe, in the presence of several guests, including academics and delegates to this Saturday's regional summit.

The Angolan academic will be responsible for speaking on 'Investment opportunities for industrialization in SADC', in a panel to be moderated by Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo, president of the Higher Education Council of Zimbabwe.

The central theme of this SADC Public Lecture for 2024 will be presented by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, as guest of honour.

The activity follows the conclusion, on Wednesday, of the meeting of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) Council of Ministers that prepared the agenda for the summit of heads of state and government.

For two days, the Council reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the various decisions on regional integration, the SADC Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and the Strategy and Roadmap for Industrialization, among other issues.

The status of Member States' contributions, the report of the outgoing Chair of the Organ for Cooperation in the Areas of Politics, Defence and Security were also under review.

During the work, the Angolan delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and outgoing President of the Council of Ministers, Téte António. IZ/ADR/DOJ