Chair, the concept of a developmental state is primarily brought about by the urgent need to address, amongst others, poverty in underdeveloped countries. It works with the assumption, according to leading scholars, that the market can and will address the deliverance and, therefore poverty challenges.
The challenge, therefore, is for the developmental state to become more than a rhetorical concept, but a reality. It therefore, begs the question whether an even-handed ratio exists between what the market generates to the state in the form of taxes and delivery to the masses, especially the poorest of the poor.
Markets are most lucrative if conditions internally and externally are favourable. We therefore have considered whether not only our domestic market conditions allow for optimal state resources, but whether the conditions of our subcontinental economic and political environment need an overhaul.
The NA therefore believes that subcontinental customs regulations have to be reviewed to allow for more streamlined economic and trade activities within SADC. This, we believe, could lead to a greater flow of capital and labour among member countries that would bring about greater revenue resources to governments, which would allow for more poverty alleviation. Also, skills specialisation and technological advancement can be achieved in this way.
However, no matter how big the poverty alleviation resources pool is, the ability to channel this to the poor remains the biggest challenge. We therefore, above all, need to seek ways and means of how we will ensure that the necessary skills are in place for the desired distribution infrastructure to address poverty. Allow me to state that the magnitude of this topic begs for greater deliberation than what is allowed for here today. I thank you.