FRIDAY, 11.30AM
CLOFED and Texfed, SA’s two clothing and textile manufacturers’ federations, have refused to give their backing to a proposed trade deal with Zambia offering improved access to domestic markets.
It is believed that government will table its offer to Zambia next week as scheduled, regardless of support from the two bodies. ”The process of negotiations will not be stalled because of their intransigence,” an official from the department of trade and industry said. However, he added that government will consider legitimate concerns of local industries.
The textile federations are opposed to individual trade deals, arguing that focus should remain on the Southern African Development Community trade protocol. It is believed the SA Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union is also concerned about the deal and has requested a meeting to discuss it with Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin.
A department official said the bilateral deal will fall away once the SADC free trade deal takes effect.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
SA TO HOST TELECOM 98 SOUTH Afroca has been chosen to host Telecom 98, a major conference and exhibition organised by the International Telecommunications Union, Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Minister Jay Naidoo said on Thursday. The expo is expected to attract 6 000 foreign visitors. The conferenec will take place from May 4-10 next year at the National Exhibition Centre in Johannesburg, under the theme ”African Renaissance”.
GERMANS WANT SA ARMS DEAL GERMAN arms manufacturers will on Friday hand Defence Minister Joe Modise a package containing proposals for the supply of corvettes, jet trainers and helicopters to the SA National Defence Force, similar to offers already made by Britain and France. The package was put together by Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin, apparently with the aim of drawing maximum trade and investment benefit for SA from the weapons deal.