Ndola — SOUTHERN African Development Community (SADC) executive secretary, Tomaz Salomao has said that the region's economies are well-positioned to attain higher growth levels in the coming years.

Dr Salomao said performance by SADC economies had improved in the immediate past period while the outlook was also good.

He said on average, SADC economic performance had improved in terms of growth in output and per capita income in 2006 as compared to 2005, and economic growth outlook for the region was projected to be at approximately seven per cent in 2007.

Speaking at Mulungushi International Conference Centre during a media briefing session, Dr Salomao said a country by country analysis of growth trends showed that during 2005-2006, seven member states achieved growth rates of five per cent or higher, whilst only four grew by less than three per cent.

The other three member countries grew by less than five per cent, but more than three per cent. On average, the region recorded per capita income growth rate of 4.1 per cent in 2006, which was a better growth performance than the sub-Saharan African average of 3.4 per cent during the same period.

Dr Salomao said the annual inflation rates for SADC member states were generally moving in the right direction even though it is still higher than the sub-Saharan African average of 13.0 per cent for 2007 and also remains higher than the SADC macro-economic target of achieving single digit inflation by 2008.

In addition, SADC as a region moved from a period of current account deficit to current account surpluses, but only Botswana, Mauritius and South Africa have achieved current account surpluses for most of the period up to 2006.

Dr Salomao said the food security situation for the region had generally been satisfactory for the period 2006-2007 owing to the good harvests experienced in most member countries.

He said preliminary Forecast of Regional Food Security and vulnerability situation for 2007/08 indicated a regional cereal deficit of 4.35 million tonnes compared to 3.50 million tonnes in 2006/07.

South Africa, which normally produces about half of the region's maize, is expected to produce about 7.17 million tonnes. This is below its 10 year average of 9.27 million tonnes. The reduction is due to almost 50 per cent drop in yields caused by drought.

The SADC executive secretary, however, said despite the expected low overall production in the region, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia were expected to have surplus maize, which could be exported to other member states.

He said SADC attached importance to food security because it was the first line of defence for any country and that as SADC, the region could not continue to beg for food from outside.