France, Aug. 17 -- Southern African leaders are meeting in Madagascar to decide how to make the region more self-reliant and less vulnerable to global economic shocks after years of instability and falling foreign aid.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit gets underway in Antananarivo on Sunday, with Madagascar taking the bloc's rotating presidency for the first time.

Leaders from 16 countries will set the course for the region's future, discussing how to boost trade from within and cut dependence on outside partners.

The theme this year is clear: remove barriers, move goods faster and keep more value at home.

Opening the SADC Council of Ministers on Tuesday, executive secretary Elias Magosi said the region is bein...