From the 23rd to the 25th April 2008 in Maputo (Mozambique), the First International Conference on "Regional Integration Issues and SADC Law" has been held. Among the objectives of the International Conference one was to define strategies for the development and/or institutional capacities in the field of the harmonization and unification of SADC Member States legal systems. To achieve its objectives, the Conference itself was organized according to different thematic sessions, among which one has been dedicated to the theme: "International experiences and practices in regional integration". Within this panel, H.E. Alhousseini MOULOUL, Professor of Law, Ambassador of Niger in Egypt, and UNIDA Representative in Egypt and Prof. Salvatore Mancuso, Professor of Law at the University of Macau and Honorary Professor at Xiangtan University, and UNIDA Representative for Asia presented the objectives, operation, and organization of OHADA and its applicability as a model of harmonization and unification of law for SADC Member Countries. In the document containing the conclusions and recommendations issued after the Conference, OHADA is clearly considered as a possible model of harmonization and unification of law compatible with SADC framework. For that matter, it has been decided that the need for the harmonization and unification of national legal systems should be taken into consideration to achieve certainty and predictability in the implementation of legal norms and the reduction of transaction costs. The way forward has been identified in the participation of SADC Secretariat to OHADA meetings as invited observer, and in the promotion of the establishment of OHADA clubs in SADC countries. Download the conclusions and recommendations :

• English version
• Portuguese version