The Southern African Sugar Sector – PERISA Case Study 3 on Private Sector

The sugar industry has the potential to play a key developmental role in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The SADC bloc accounts for approximately 54% of total African sugar production. Beyond its economic importance and success in the region, the sugar industry ticks many of the boxes of the most difficult development challenges: playing to comparative advantages; diversification (energy and bio-chemicals); benefiting small nations; and employing many workers, including low-skilled workers and those in rural areas.