BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
EZULWINI – Southern African Customs Union (SACU) member states have intensified efforts to strengthen regional automotive manufacturing and green mineral beneficiation value chains as they seek to unlock industrial growth, create jobs and position the region as a competitive player in the global green economy.
This emerged on June 9, 2026 at Happy Valley Hotel during the Fifth SACU Task Team Meeting on Automotive and Mineral Beneficiation, currently underway in Eswatini, where delegates from member states gathered to advance strategies aimed at accelerating regional industrialisation through value addition and cross-border cooperation.
Chairperson of the SACU Task Team on Automotive and Green Mineral Beneficiation, Sibu Khumalo of South Africa, said the meeting was critical in driving the development of the SACU Smart Specialisation Strategy for Automotive and Associated Green Mineral Beneficiation, a key directive of the SACU Council of Ministers.
Khumalo said member states were expected to refine the draft strategy, consider progress on the regional battery value chain initiative and discuss industrial participation arrangements with Egypt and Algeria.
He stressed that SACU leaders were expecting tangible progress on two major deliverables: the Smart Specialisation Strategy on Automotive and Mineral Beneficiation and the framework for industrial participation between SACU, Egypt and Algeria.
“These initiatives will provide a strong foundation for regional automotive development, mineral beneficiation and cross-border industrial cooperation,” he said.
Welcoming delegates to the Kingdom, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Phesheya Dube, described the meeting as an important milestone in SACU’s journey towards economic transformation and deeper regional integration.
Dube said the automotive and mineral beneficiation sectors presented significant opportunities for value addition, industrial expansion and job creation across the region.
He urged member states to leverage opportunities presented by SACU, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand markets and strengthen regional competitiveness.
“The future of our economies lies in our ability to move beyond exporting raw materials and towards building strong regional value chains that create wealth and employment for our people,” said Dube.
He further highlighted the importance of collaboration among member states, noting that regional partnerships would be instrumental in developing industries capable of competing on the global stage.
The meeting will also receive presentations on Namibia’s lithium pilot processing project, Eswatini’s geological mapping and mineral exploration activities, as well as proposals aimed at attracting investment into mineral beneficiation projects.
Delegates are expected to formulate recommendations that will be submitted to SACU Senior Officials and ultimately the Council of Ministers for consideration and approval.
The gathering comes at a time when demand for critical minerals used in batteries and green technologies continues to grow globally, presenting new opportunities for SACU countries to benefit from emerging green industrial value chains.
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