SADC Development Finance Resource Centre celebtrates 10 years of operations

The SADC Development Finance Resource Centre (SADC-DFRC) celebrated its 10th Anniversary on 5th December, 2013 at Gaborone International Conference Centre in Gaborone, Botswana. The Celebration was in recognition of the institution’s achievements and contributions to the SADC regional developmental goals of sustainable economic development, employment generation and poverty alleviation over a decade, through path-breaking and innovative capacity building programmes, policy research and advisory services provided to SADC development finance institutions (DFIs) and governments.

The event was graced by His Honour the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr. Ponatshego H Kedikilwe.

While lauding the DFRC and the DFI Network for their contribution to the regional development finance architecture, the Vice President emphasised that the importance of developing strong and sustainable partnerships between the public and private sectors to exploit the natural resources of SADC for the benefit of its citizens. He gave major examples of development projects that constituted the potential areas of cooperation in Botswana. Read More.

The Vice President also informed the gathering that the government of Botswana had taken important policy steps to mobilise and allocate financial resources to development projects by establishing a range of development finance institutions actively involved in the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as agricultural, industrial, infrastructure and external trade projects.

In welcoming the Vice President, The Chief Executive Officer of the DFRC, Mr. Stuart Kufeni outlined the major accomplishments of the SADC-DFRC over the past ten years. He recognised that despite major challenges the institution experienced at infancy stage, the DFRC with the support of the DFI Network, immensely contributed to the evaluation of regional, national and Institutional development finance structures.

The SADC Development Finance