ABC Newsletter, 12 April 2012

Newsletter of the Agricultural Business Chamber

12 April 2012

www.agbiz2012.co.za

In this week's newsletter

Agricultural Trade Balance: "Missed Opportunities" rather than a "Food Security" issue

ABC Meets With Minister of Energy

Electronic BUSA Bulletin

Tenders

Hub Happenings March 2012

Upcoming Events

Reminders

ABC / IDC Confidence Index Survey

Deadline : 25 April 2012

More information»

BEE Implementation in Agribusiness Sector Survey

Deadline: 30 April 2012

More information»

ABC Council Meetings

4 June 2012

15 August 2012

7 November 2012

Crop Estimates

SA Grain Information Services

SAGIS's Weekly Bulletin

includes a collection of local and international grain information such as prices, stocks, import parity prices, economic indicators, the food prices of Statistics SA, weather conditions, etc.
www.sagis.org.za

ABC in the news

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JADAFA Website

Find out more about African Trade Agreements, Country information and regulatory information by visiting

www.jadafa.co.za

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Agricultural Trade Balance:
"Missed Opportunities" rather than a "Food Security" issue

Fresh fruits Over the past decade, the overall Agricultural Trade balance for South Africa has remained positive, with the exception of 2007. The rumour that "South Africa has become a net importer of food", which, especially, politicians so freely spread, is false.

South Africa has never been a net importer of primary agricultural products. What is true is that South Africa has been a net importer of secondary, or processed, agricultural products since 2005. This lack of industrialisation of the sector indicates where South Africa has been lacking in unlocking opportunities in value adding, wealth and income generation and, especially, employment. Click to read more»

ABC Meets With Minister of Energy
The ABC, as part of the BUSA delegation, met with Minister Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy, and senior officials of the Department of Energy, including the Director General, this past week. The meeting was called by BUSA in order to address three major concerns from organised business. Read more»

ABC Agbiz Congress 2012

The Agricultural Business Chamber's biennial congresses boast a reputation for addressing the most current topics in the agribusiness sector by speakers who are experts in their respective fields. The ABC Agbiz Congress 2012 takes place from 5 - 6 June 2012 at the Champagne Sports Resort in the Drakensberg.

The congress offers attendees an abundance of practical information as well as plenty of professional networking opportunities. For more congress information, visit http://www.agbiz2012.co.za

Electronic BUSA Bulletin

BUSA CEO Nomaxabiso Majokweni

In this issue of the Electronic BUSA Bulletin:

* CEO's message on BRICS
* IOE on growth and SMEs
* BUSA and MEDEF
* Proposed Labour Law Amendments - a media campaign
* Trade matters
* A BUSA report on the ANC Report on the Mining Industry
* Special economic zones draft Bill

Tenders

Country:	Zambia
Project:	International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Financing:	United Nations System
Abstract:	Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (SAPP)
Sector:	Consultants
Contract/Bid Number:	Request for Expression of Interest
Deadline:	27 April 2012

Hub Happenings March 2012

Articles in this monthly update from the USAID SATH in Gaborone, Botswana:

Success Story: Groundnut Trials Commence in Quilimane.
* SATH Supports Expansion of Electronic Single Window in Southern Africa.
* SATH Identifies Opportunities to Support Women Farmers in Northern Mozambique.
* SATH Conducts Rules of Origin Training for the Botswana Department of Industrial Affairs.
* Fancy Foods Show Participants Report Additional Orders.
* Export Digest: Product Entry into the US Market - Why some goods are refused.
Please click here to view online»

Upcoming Events

Let's Do Business - US-Mozambique
18-19 April 2012
More information»

Bien Donné Agri Cape Week

19 - 21 April 2012

Bien Donné Research Farm, R45, Simondium, Western Cape

More information»
Programme»

SIAL China 2012 (Agro-processing Sector)

09 - 11 May 2012

Shanghai, China
More information»

Road Freight Association (RFA) Convention
20 - 22 May 2012
Kwa-Zulu Natal

ABC CONGRESS 2012

5 - 6 June 2012

Champagne Sports Resort, Drakensberg

More information

Sponsorship options

2012 IFAMA Forum & Symposium
9 - 14 June 2012
Shanghai, China
More information»

iPAD Angola

12-14 June 2012
Annual Conference and Exhibition on Infrastructure Partnerships
Luanda
More info»

Infrastructure Africa Indaba
10 - 11 July 2012
Sandton Convention Centre
Johannesburg
Brochure»
Draft programme»

10% discount to ABC members who attend this event

AMT AGRI Outlook Conference

3 - 4 September 2012

AGRI MEGA WEEK
13 - 15 September 2012
Mega Park, Bredasdorp, Western Cape

More information

16th China International Fair For Investment And Trade
8 - 11 September 2012
Xiamen, China
More information»

Allfresh Conference
1 - 2 October 2012
CSIR, Pretoria
More information»

SIAL Paris 2012 (Agro-processing Sector)

21-25 October 2012

Paris, France

More information»

World Soybean Research Congress IX (WSRC) 2013
17-22 February 2013
International Convention Centre in Durban.
More information available on website www.wsrc2013.org

For more news, visit our website at www.agbiz.co.za

Sincerely,

Agricultural Business Chamber