Strategic Session of the NEDLAC Trade and Industry Chamber
 Minister Rob Davies on the 25th of June chaired the Strategic Session of the NEDLAC Trade and Industry Chamber (TIC) where Government, Business and Labour reported on progress with matters being dealt with in the TIC, as well as to identify critical areas not being addressed sufficiently. Agbiz CEO, Dr John Purchase, participated as part of the Business delegation. The three key areas dealt with were:
- Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP2), which includes the focus on agro-processing as a key pillar to IPAP2 (Click the link to view presentation by the dti).
- Administered pricing, with specific focus on electricity tariffs and burdening tariffs imposed by municipalities.
- General Status Report on Trade, with specific reference to key policy parameters guiding negotiations on trade agreements and government's emphasis on regional integration and development. Please click the link for the presentation by Minister Rob Davies outlining the status of negotiation with regard to SADC/EAC, COMESA free Trade Agreement, SA-BRICS Co-operation Framework, SACU/India Preferential Trade Agreement, Economic Partnership Agreement (with EU), AGOA (with USA), and the SA position within the WTO. The Minister also addressed the crisis in the poultry industry at length.
Minister Davies, in his closing remarks, heavily emphasized the importance of social dialogue to address the developmental challenges facing South Africa, and committed the full participation of the dti and himself to this process.
The sense that Agbiz takes from this meeting is one that progress is now being made in addressing some of the key constraints and barriers in implementing industrial development, so as to address the critical issue of ensuring economic growth and greater employment. However, much still needs to be done to ensure a favourable and enabling environment in which investors can venture capital in globally competitive businesses.
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Feedback from IFAMA
 | | Thad Simons, IFAMA President and Novus International President and CEO. |
John Purchase and Lindie Stroebel attended the 23rd International Food
and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Forum and Symposium in Atlanta, USA from 15-20 June 2013.
The conference theme was "The Road to 2050: The Talent Factor". This theme is an on-going topic which was identified by leading global agribusinesses, academia and government as the most concerning issue taking the agribusiness sector on "The road to 2050" to ultimately be able to feed the expected 9 billion people on earth by then.
All participants of the conference wore badges saying: "People feed the world", emphasising that it depends on talent and human capital to enable the agribusiness sector to fulfil its task in feeding the world in the future. Enabling the best of the best talent to join the agribusiness sector is going to take many initiatives and actions by everyone involved and all the conference sessions lead one way or the other back to this topic.
We are also very glad to announce that the IFAMA 24th World Forum and Symposium will be hosted in Cape Town, South Africa in 2014. The "Road to 2050" theme, together with the "Talent factor" theme will be continued in the programme for the 2014 conference, together with a prominent element of show casing and enabling agribusiness opportunities in Africa.
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 | | Danie Minnaar, new elected Chairman of Senwes |
Senwes Chairman steps down
The Chairman of Senwes Ltd, Japie Grobler, this week formally announced that he will retire as Chairman and Board member at the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the company in August 2013.
Under the leadership of Japie Grobler the company created tremendous value for its stakeholders.
"We wish Japie all the best and foresee that as a shareholder in the company, he will remain one of our critical role-players in promoting the company's strategy and assisting us with aspects such as empowerment", said Francois Strydom, Managing Director.
The Board also announced that Danie Minnaar has been appointed as Chairman. Read media release»
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Production forecast for summer crops
 Click to peruse the Crop Estimates Committee's Fifth Production forecast for summer crops 2013»
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Newsletter of the NEPAD Business Foundation
Linked find the latest newsletter of the NEPAD Business Foundation.
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Infrastructure Africa Conference
16 - 17 July 2013 | Sandton Convention Centre | Sandton
More information
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Doing Business in Mozambique
6 August | PwC Sunninghill
Mozambique is becoming a world priority investment destination, powered by recent discoveries and development of natural resources, with South African companies being key investors and suppliers.
PwC invites Agbiz Members to join them for a presentation that will cover issues like investment opportunities, taxation in Mozambique, regulatory requirements for setting up, and interacting with authorities. Additionally, they will highlight the South African tax and exchange control implications to be aware of when investing overseas, and more. More information»
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The Fertilizer Society of SA Symposium
12 August 2013 | CSIR International Convention Centre | Pretoria
Theme: Principles of fertilizer recommendations based on international norms.
Enquiries: Hermien Wouda, Tel: (012) 349 1450 or e-mail: hermien@fssa.org.za
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PMA Fresh Connections & Expo14-15 August 2013 | Lord Charles Hotel |Somerset West PMA Fresh Connections Conference & Expo Contact Marianne van der Laarse for information on PMA membership, sponsorships and the expo: mvanderlaarse@pma.com
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AgriBizniz Summit
15-16 August 2013 | Nasrec Expo Centre
Contact Sarah Howarth at 011 234 4645
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Agriculture & Food Career Fair22 - 23 August 2013 | Rautenbach Hall | University of Pretoria
More information: Marianne van der Laarse, e-mail: info@careerfair.co.za or tel 012 3320696
www.careerfair.co.za
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China International Fair for Investment and Trade
8 - 11 September 2013, Xiamen
10 - 11 September 2013, Shanghai and
12 - 13 September 2013, Beijing
Enquiries: Makana Gerald Mandiwana at the Department of Trade and Industry, e-mail: MGMandiwana@thedti.gov.za
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Potatoes South Africa Congress
10-12 September 2013
For more information contact Monica van der Merwe at 012 349 1906 or email: monica@potatoes.co.za
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Big Iron Farm Show 2013
10-12 September 2013 | Fargo North Dakota | USA
Visitors will get a chance to see U.S. farm machinery in use in the fields; and meet personally with equipment company owners, operators and farmers who use the equipment.
More information»
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AMT South African Agri Outlook Conference
30 September 2013 | CSIR Conference Center
Enquiries: 012 348 8344 or 27 12 361 2748 or email: minda@amtrends.co.za
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