{"id":10197,"date":"2025-05-02T14:34:03","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T12:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/?page_id=10197"},"modified":"2025-08-15T12:19:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T10:19:58","slug":"sadc-sotip-about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/?page_id=10197","title":{"rendered":"about_us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"page\" data-elementor-id=\"10197\" class=\"elementor elementor-10197\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-71472402 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"71472402\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column 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class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-782c3263 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"782c3263\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-452205\" data-id=\"452205\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2e52bf e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e2e52bf\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c44d6a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9c44d6a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e00f2d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"e00f2d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"edb-style-section\">\r\n  <div class=\"edb-container\">\r\n    <div class=\"edb-left\">\r\n      <h1 style=\"font-size:clamp(2rem,6vw,4rem);font-weight:700;color:#282a5f;text-align:center;line-height:1.2;\">Welcome to The SADC Trade and Investment\r\n      Platform.<\/h1>\r\n      <p>\r\n        Recognizing the critical need for SADC economies to diversify and embrace technology and innovation, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the SADC Business Council have partnered to create an Integrated Platform. \r\n\r\n\r\n      <\/p>\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"edb-extra-text\" id=\"extraText\">\r\n        <p> The SADC Online Trade and Investment Platform (SOTIP) is a centralized hub for businesses, investors, and technology enthusiasts.<\/p>\r\n        \r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <button class=\"edb-read-more-btn\" onclick=\"toggleText()\">\r\n        <span id=\"readMoreLabel\">Read More<\/span> <span class=\"edb-icon\" id=\"arrow\">\u2193<\/span>\r\n      <\/button>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"edb-right\">\r\n      <strong>Any questions?<\/strong>\r\n      <h3>Meet our Experts<\/h3>\r\n      <p>(+264) 123 456<\/p>\r\n      <button onclick=\"window.location.href='mailto:info@edbmauritius.org'\">EMAIL US<\/button>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <style>\r\n    .edb-style-section * {\r\n      font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .edb-container {\r\n      display: flex;\r\n      flex-wrap: wrap;\r\n      justify-content: 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document.getElementById(\"readMoreLabel\");\r\n      const arrow = document.getElementById(\"arrow\");\r\n\r\n      if (extraText.classList.contains(\"show\")) {\r\n        extraText.classList.remove(\"show\");\r\n        label.textContent = \"Read More\";\r\n        arrow.textContent = \"\u2193\";\r\n      } else {\r\n        extraText.classList.add(\"show\");\r\n        label.textContent = \"Read Less\";\r\n        arrow.textContent = \"\u2191\";\r\n      }\r\n    }\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3adee33 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3adee33\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0dfe56a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0dfe56a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04508f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"04508f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-accordion-section\">\r\n  <div class=\"about-intro\">\r\n \r\n    <p>\r\n      We are a regional digital platform dedicated to accelerating economic integration and sustainable development across the SADC region. By harnessing innovative technology and regional collaboration, we create opportunities for businesses and investors to connect, grow, and compete globally.\r\n    <\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"accordion\">\r\n      \r\n       <div class=\"accordion-item\">\r\n      <button class=\"accordion-button\">Our Story<\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"accordion-content\">\r\n        <p>\r\n         Recognizing the critical need for SADC economies to diversify and embrace technology and innovation, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the SADC Business Council have partnered to create an Integrated Platform. The SADC Online Trade and Investment Platform (SOTIP) is a centralized hub for businesses, investors, and technology enthusiasts. \r\n        <\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    <div class=\"accordion-item\">\r\n      <button class=\"accordion-button\">Our Vision<\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"accordion-content\">\r\n        <p>\r\n         We envision a future where businesses in the SADC region can seamlessly access trade opportunities, attract investments, and leverage technology to compete on a global scale. By bridging gaps and creating synergies, we aim to position SADC as a dynamic and innovative economic powerhouse.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"accordion-item\">\r\n      <button class=\"accordion-button\">Our Mission<\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"accordion-content\">\r\n        <p>\r\n          Our mission is to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), large businesses and other stakeholders to facilitate cross-border collaboration, boost intra-regional trade, and investment and drive the adoption of cutting-edge technologies to create a thriving and interconnected SADC economy.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"accordion-item\">\r\n      <button class=\"accordion-button\">Our Objectives<\/button>\r\n      <div class=\"accordion-content\">\r\n        <ul>\r\n          <li><strong>Enhance Trade and Investment:<\/strong>Provide businesses, particularly MSMEs with the tools and opportunities to expand their reach, connect with partners, and access new markets.<\/li>\r\n          <li><strong>Foster Technology Adoption: <\/strong> Connect investors with high-potential projects across key industries, fostering economic growth and job creation.<\/li>\r\n          <li><strong>Support Regional Integration: <\/strong>Facilitate the implementation of key trade agreements, including the SADC FTA, Tripartite FTA, and AfCFTA, by providing actionable information and resources.<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <style>\r\n    .about-accordion-section {\r\n      font-family: Open Sans;\r\n      padding: 60px 10%;\r\n      background-color: #fff;\r\n      color: #333;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .about-intro h2 {\r\n      font-size: 32px;\r\n      color: #282a5f;\r\n      margin-bottom: 10px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .about-intro p {\r\n      font-size: 18px;\r\n      line-height: 1.6;\r\n      margin-bottom: 30px;\r\n      color: #000;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    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class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"sadc-section\">\r\n  <div class=\"sadc-container\">\r\n    <!-- Left Content -->\r\n    <div class=\"sadc-left\">\r\n          <h1 style=\"font-size:clamp(2rem,6vw,4rem);font-weight:700;color:#282a5f;text-align:center;line-height:1.2;\">SADC SOTIP Exists To:<\/h1>\r\n      <ul>\r\n        <li>Break barriers and fuel Southern Africa\u2019s economic revolution.<\/li>\r\n        <li>Connect, innovate, and accelerate prosperity across SADC.<\/li>\r\n        <li>Transform trade, tech, and opportunity in Southern Africa.<\/li>\r\n        <li>Unite visionaries and build Africa\u2019s next growth frontier.<\/li>\r\n        <li>Turn regional potential into shared success.<\/li>\r\n     \r\n      <\/ul>\r\n      <div class=\"sadc-buttons\">\r\n        <button class=\"btn filled\">\ud83d\udcc4 Regional Report<\/button>\r\n        <button class=\"btn outlined\">View SADC Treaty<\/button>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Right Content -->\r\n    <div class=\"sadc-stats\">\r\n      <div class=\"stat-card dark\">\r\n        <h3>US$182 billion+<\/h3>\r\n        <p>FDI<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"stat-card light\">\r\n        <h3>US$924.3 billion<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Total Capital Investment<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"stat-card light\">\r\n        <h3>1.2M<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Planned Regional Jobs<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"stat-card dark\">\r\n        <h3>2.7%<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Economic Growth Projections<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <style>\r\n    .sadc-section {\r\n      padding: 60px 10%;\r\n      font-family: \"Open Sans\", sans-serif;\r\n      background-color: #fff;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .sadc-container {\r\n      display: flex;\r\n      flex-wrap: wrap;\r\n      justify-content: space-between;\r\n      gap: 40px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .sadc-left {\r\n      flex: 1 1 45%;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n     .sadc-stats h3 {\r\n      font-size: 28px;\r\n      margin-bottom: 20px;\r\n      font-weight: bold;\r\n      color: white; \/* SADC Navy Blue *\/\r\n      line-height:1.2;\r\n    }\r\n      .sadc-stats p {\r\n      font-size: 28px;\r\n      margin-bottom: 20px;\r\n      font-weight: bold;\r\n      color: white; \/* SADC Navy Blue *\/\r\n    }\r\n\r\n\r\n    .sadc-left ul {\r\n      list-style: none;\r\n      padding: 0;\r\n      margin: 0 0 30px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .sadc-left ul li {\r\n      position: relative;\r\n      padding-left: 25px;\r\n      margin-bottom: 15px;\r\n      color: #000; \/* SADC Gold *\/\r\n      font-size: 16px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .sadc-left ul li::before {\r\n      content: '\u25cf';\r\n      color: #000; \/* SADC Gold *\/\r\n      position: absolute;\r\n      left: 0;\r\n      top: 0;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .sadc-buttons {\r\n      display: flex;\r\n      flex-wrap: wrap;\r\n      gap: 15px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .btn {\r\n      padding: 10px 20px;\r\n      border-radius: 20px;\r\n      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class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"team-section\">\r\n  <div class=\"team-container\">\r\n        <h1 style=\"font-size:clamp(2rem,6vw,4rem);font-weight:700;color:#fff;text-align:center;line-height:1.2;\">Our Team<\/h1>\r\n    <p class=\"team-subtitle\">Meet the professionals driving the SOTIP's mission across the region.<\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"team-grid\">\r\n      <!-- Team Member 1 -->\r\n      <div class=\"team-card\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Bineswaree.jpg\" alt=\"Bineswaree Bolaky Photo\">\r\n        <h3>Bineswaree Bolaky<\/h3>\r\n        <p class=\"role\">Economic Affairs Officer<\/p>\r\n        <p>ECA Subregional office for Southern Africa.\r\nCoordinator of ECA\u2019s support to development of the platform<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <!-- Team Member 2 -->\r\n      <div class=\"team-card\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LynneJOngwe.png\" alt=\"Michael Tambo Photo\">\r\n        <h3>Lynn Jongwe<\/h3>\r\n        <p class=\"role\">Economic Investment Affairs Expert<\/p>\r\n        <p>Expert in foreign direct investment and regional policy frameworks.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <!-- Team Member 3 -->\r\n      <div class=\"team-card\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Taku-Pic.jpeg\" alt=\"Taku Photo\">\r\n        <h3>Taku Fundira<\/h3>\r\n        <p class=\"role\">Consultant<\/p>\r\n        <p> Taku Fundira is a trade and investment policy analyst with over 15 years of experience in international trade and investment-related issues. <\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <!-- Team Member 4 -->\r\n      <div class=\"team-card\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/EzekielTinasheMukanga.png\" alt=\"Thabo Kunda Photo\">\r\n        <h3>Ezekiel Mukanga<\/h3>\r\n        <p class=\"role\">Consultant<\/p>\r\n        <p>Integrates, and maximize the value of IT systems, offering expertise in areas such as hardware, software, networks, and project management.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <style>\r\n    .team-section {\r\n      width: 100%;\r\n      padding: 60px 0;\r\n      background-color: #282a5f; \/* SADC Navy *\/\r\n      font-family: \"Open Sans\", sans-serif;\r\n      text-align: center;\r\n      color: #fff;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .team-container {\r\n      max-width: 1200px;\r\n      margin: 0 auto;\r\n      padding: 0 20px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .team-section h1 {\r\n      font-size: 32px;\r\n      margin-bottom: 10px;\r\n      font-weight: bold;\r\n      color: #fff; \/* SADC Gold *\/\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .team-subtitle {\r\n      font-size: 16px;\r\n      margin-bottom: 40px;\r\n      color: #fff;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .team-grid {\r\n      display: grid;\r\n      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style=\"font-size:clamp(2rem,6vw,4rem);font-weight:700;color:#282a5f;text-align:center;line-height:1.2;\">Watch our latest SADC regional updates and highlight<\/h1>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"zim-videos-grid\">\r\n    <!-- Video 1 -->\r\n    <article class=\"zim-video-card\">\r\n      <div class=\"zim-video-frame\">\r\n       <video controls width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" preload=\"metadata\" poster=\"thumbnail.jpg\">\r\n  <source src=\"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AFCFTA-Making-the-Most-of-the-African-Continental-Free-Trade-Area.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\">\r\n  Your browser does not support the video tag.\r\n<\/video>\r\n\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"zim-video-content\">\r\n        <h1 class=\"zim-video-heading\">AFFTCA Trade Highlights<\/h1>\r\n        <button class=\"zim-video-watchmore\" onclick=\"watchMore(1)\">Watch Full Video<\/button>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/article>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Video 2 -->\r\n    <article class=\"zim-video-card\">\r\n      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function watchMore(id) {\r\n      alert(`You clicked to watch video #${id}. 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The SADC Online Trade and Investment Platform (SOTIP) is a centralized hub for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10197","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10197"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12993,"href":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10197\/revisions\/12993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sadcsotip.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}