Reminders

ABC Council Meetings

Crop Estimates

  Click here»

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

www.jadafa.co.za 

ABC Newsletter Archive

 Follow Us On

The controversial situation regarding the e-tolling of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), came alongside the recently published proposed amendments to the SANRAL Act. The ABC supported BUSA and the relevant role players, such as the Road Freight Association (RFA), who made a significant impact on the negotiations toward getting a more favourable outcome for business in this regard.

For you interest, please click here to download the draft regulations on the SANRAL Act, as published on 25 March 2012. The ABC supported BUSA's comments thereon (click here to download it), which was submitted to The Director General of Transport, Mr Trevor Mphahlele on 13 April 2012.

Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) submitted comments this week to the Department of Transport on the publication of the SANRAL Act, Act 7 of 1998.

The ABC Agbiz Congress 2012 takes place from 5 - 6 June 2012 at the Champagne Sports Resort in the Drakensberg.  Keynote Speakers are Minister Gugile Nkwinti, Rural Development and Land Reform, Ms Futhi Mtoba, President of BUSA and Prof Marcos Fava Neves, Market Strategist, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Dr John Purchase, CEO of the ABC, this week said that the current engagement process through the National Reference Group on the Land Reform Green Paper would be critical to South Africa's future agricultural development and food security. By the beginning of June 2012 Minister Nkwinti will be able to indicate the direction government will be taking on the land reform policy... Download the congress media release by clicking here»

Source: Cape Times, 17 April 2012
In late February, leading figures from the fossil fuel industry met in Pretoria to forge ahead with the government's highly controversial plans for an SA biofuels industry.

The catalyst for this meeting wasthe publication by the government last September of draft regulations for the mandatory blending of biofules in the nation's liquid fuel supply.  Click here to read article»

Call for Comment on the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme

The Department of Trade and Industry has released the MCEP guidelines for public comment. The Department's deadline for comment is Friday 20 April 2012.

Please find the following attached hereto:

MCEP publication notice»
MCEP summary of guidelines»
MCEP draft guidelines»
IPAP 3»
  

Kindly submit comments by no later than 1pm on Thursday 19 April 2012 to Ms Mpumelelo Mabaso at Mpumelelo.Mabaso@busa.org.za

FEWS NET's Food Security Outlook Update for Southern Africa for the period ending June 2012. The key Messages are:
* Availability of a variety of seasonal foods from the green harvest, has contributed to improved food security conditions across the region.
* Although the 2011/12 rainy season is now ending, some areas - including parts of South Africa, Lesotho, southern Malawi, parts of southern Zambia, and the southern half of Zimbabwe - still have crops that are yet to reach full maturity because of erratic and late onset of rains, dry spells, and flooding in January/February. 

* Reports from most countries however indicate that, outside the areas affected by weather shocks, the 2011/12 cropping season is generally progressing well with the early planted maize at maturity and the late /re-plantings at various stages of crop growth.  

* 2011/12 cropping season cereal production prospects vary across the region.

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) invites you to join a business delegation accompanying Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to Germany for the South Africa - Germany Bi-national Commission. The high level bilateral is scheduled from 8th to 9th May, 2012. Discussions will be held on a range of sectors with a focus on the following: Renewable energy, Automotives, Agro-processing, Metals, Chemicals and Cultural industries. Read invitation»
  

Please complete the linked forms and respond to the dti representative/s below:
Company Profile»
 Registration»
  

Ms M Hall: Tel: 012 394  1685, Email: mhall@thedti.gov.za

Mr T Mlangeni: Tel: 012 394 1120, Email: tmlangeni@thedti.gov.za