Excellencies,
Distinguished Ministers,
Excellencies, Permanent Representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, allow me to commend the conveners for bringing us together to reflect on the implementation of the Pact for the Future and what it means for Africa as we look towards the 2028 review.

As Chair of the Southern African Development Community, South Africa shares the belief that youth empowerment and financing for development are key priorities for our region and our continent.

At its core, the Pact for the Future is an affirmation of our shared responsibility to future generations.

This responsibility is inseparable from our young people.

Africa has the youngest population in the world, with a median age of 19 years.

Our youthful population represents an extraordinary opportunity for our continent and the global community.

The commitments contained in the Pact should therefore translate into quality education and skills, access to decent work, entrepreneurship, and meaningful participation in public life.

For SADC, investing in youth is an investment in social cohesion, economic transformation and shared prosperity.

The ambitions of the Pact for the Future, including our commitment to youth, cannot be realised without adequate financing for development.

To achieve the SDGs by 2030, Africa needs to close an annual financing gap of US$ 1.3 trillion.

Countries of the global South face increased pressure on public finances, high borrowing costs and growing climate-related financing needs.

These challenges directly affect our ability to invest in infrastructure, human capital and productive capacity.

This picture explains why The Pact’s call to reform the global financial architecture resonates with us.

South Africa’s G20 Presidency called for greater debt transparency and accountability from credit rating agencies and supported the establishment of a Borrowers’ Club to amplify the collective voice of indebted nations.

We attach special importance to the Seville Commitment and to ongoing efforts to strengthen international tax cooperation.

The negotiations for a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation present a unique opportunity to support domestic resource mobilisation and address challenges arising from the international tax system.

Strengthening our capacity to mobilise resources for development is essential to delivering on the priorities contained in the Pact.

As we look towards 2028, our task is to ensure that implementation of the Pact is anchored in concrete action and measurable progress.

As SADC, we remain committed to working with the African Union, the United Nations system, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Member States and other partners to advance these priorities.

Let us ensure that the Pact for the Future becomes not only a framework of commitments, but a catalyst for unlocking opportunities for young people and future generations.

I thank you.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

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