Building a model of sustainable development without reducing import dependency is extremely difficult and largely unsustainable in the long term. While imports are a necessary part of the global economy, over-reliance on them can undermine the core tenets of sustainability, which include economic resilience, social equity, and environmental stewardship.

Why Import Dependency and Sustainable Development Clash

• Economic Vulnerability: A heavy reliance on imports makes a nation's economy fragile. It is susceptible to disruptions in global supply chains, price volatility, and geopolitical tensions. This lack of self-sufficiency can jeopardize a country's ability to maintain economic stability and provide for its citizens during a crisis, directly contradicting the goal of sustainable development.

• Environmental Costs: The current model of international trade is often environmentally damaging. The transportation of goods over long distances generates a significant carbon footprint.

Additionally, many imported products are manufactured in countries with less stringent environmental regulations, leading to pollution and resource depletion abroad that still contributes to global climate change and ecological degradation.

• Social and Human Capital: A reliance on imports can stifle the growth of local industries. This leads to job losses in manufacturing, limits opportunities for youth entrepreneurship and innovation, and hinders the development of a skilled workforce. This loss of human capital and economic opportunity goes against the social equity goals of sustainable development.

A Path Forward: Strategic Imports and the Circular Economy

A more sustainable model involves strategic imports rather than a wholesale reduction. This means focusing on importing raw materials or advanced technology that a country cannot produce efficiently, while simultaneously investing in and protecting local industries that produce consumer goods and other essential items.

The circular economy is a model that can help reduce dependency while promoting sustainability. Instead of a linear "take, make, dispose" model, a circular economy focuses on designing products for durability, reuse, repair, and recycling.

This approach can create local jobs, reduce waste, and build a more resilient domestic economy without necessarily cutting off all foreign trade. It shifts the focus from importing cheap, disposable goods to creating a domestic system that values long-lasting products and resource efficiency.