(Seychelles News Agency) - The Vice President of the Seychelles, Danny Faure, is representing the 115-island archipelago and its President, James Michel, at the 35th SADC annual summit currently underway from 17 to 18 August 2015 in Gaborone, Botswana.

The theme of this year's summit is "Accelerating industrialisation of SADC economies through transformation of natural endowment and improved human capital".

According to a press statement issued by the Office of the President, the theme emphasizes the importance given to regional industrialisation strategies to create more dynamic capabilities within the respective industries of SADC’s Member States, and therefore improve the overall industrial efficiency of the region as a whole.

The summit was preceded by the meeting of the Council of Ministers, which took place from 14 to 15 August 2015.

The Seychelles delegation was led by the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Transport, Joel Morgan.

According to the statement, Minister Morgan also had the opportunity to confirm the ratification of the Seychelles to the SADC Protocol on Trade, which concluded the country's accession process in the free trade area of ​​the Community.

In his speech, he expressed his sincere gratitude to the members of SADC for their understanding of the challenges and vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States when dealing with Seychelles’ accession to the Protocol.