Regional integration is generally accepted as an important step towards a wider global involvement. This is particularly true in Southern Africa, where we can find many countries with rather small economies. This has been realized very early: SACU, SADC and COMESA can be considered as vehicles for integration both economically and probably also politically. The European example has shown that integration can work, both economically and politically. Even if the countries participating have very different economic and political histories and backgrounds.

Today there are many studies and publications about regional integration, looking at various aspects of economic, social and political integration. The rationale of the “Monitoring Regional Integration Yearbook” is not so much to reflect the present status of integration, but rather to portray the development of the process of integration in the region. This process is complex and progress can only be demonstrated if there is an ongoing analysis available. The objective of the yearbook is to provide facts, opinions and suggestions and to analyse the progress.

This book, the fifth yearbook (for 2005), is based on the contributions to the 8th Workshop on Monitoring the Process of Regional Integration in SADC, held in Windhoek on 11-12 June 2005. The book has 12 chapters that address economic, political and institutional issues, and a conclusion drawing together the threads of the contributions.

The articles on the economic dimension of integration analyse foreign direct investment (FDI) in SADC, the rules of origin and regional integration, and report on the experiences of South African firms doing business in the region.

© 2005 Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Publication of this book was made possible by the support of the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit (NEPRU) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The views expressed by the authors are not necessarily the view of any of these institutions.

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