Free trade on track

South African President Thabo Mbeki said yesterday that Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders were determined to introduce a free trade area to boost trade and regional integration, news reports said. He told the World Economic Forum southern African summit meeting in Durban that "SADC Trade Ministers will meet in a week's time to consider the matter." He added: "We are convinced that our parliament will ratify the SADC Free Trade Protocol in time for implementation by 1 January, 2000." The three-day Durban meeting is to discuss trade, investment, political stability and regional development issues. It has attracted high-level delegations from SADC members, the United States, Europe and Nigeria. Mbeki added that South Africa is also to unveil a five-year integrated development plan for the sub-region. The programme, to be presented to SADC leaders, would cover economic infrastructure, human resources and entrepreneurial development, the South Africa's 'Business Day' reported. It was being drawn up in response to the World Bank's desire to work more closely with regional strategies, the newspaper said. Mbeki told the Durban meeting that the plan had taken longer than expected to prepare, but would be delivered as soon as possible.