8 November 2006
The International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the Department of
Trade and Industry (dti) is hosting a conference focusing on the development of
International Trade in Services within the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) region from 13 to 15 November in Centurion, Pretoria.
In the past three decades African countries have pursued the arrangement of
regional integration to accelerate their economic development, particularly in
the Southern African region. Services and its inputs have become critical to
economic growth and the reduction of poverty, and are a critical factor to
increased competitiveness, yet remain largely untapped, particularly in the
SADC region, which has not fully leveraged its potential to develop and build a
sustainable services economy.
The "Bridges across Borders" conference (programme below) will provide an
opportunity to discuss key challenges affecting the growth and development of
services in the SADC region in three priority sectors: financial services,
construction and engineering, transport and logistics, as these sectors present
the greatest potential for regional co-operation and development. Over 250
service sector associations and more than 50 enterprises from 13 participating
countries including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Swaziland, Zambia and the host country,
South Africa have registered to attend.
Bilateral discussions will enable these countries to identify and negotiate
trade in services across the three sectors. The ITC is hosting a press briefing
that will give an overview on global trade in services opportunities and
regional developments. Keynote speakers will be Mr Riaan le Roux, Acting
Director-General, Trade and Investment South Africa (TISA); Mr Remigius
Makumbe, Acting Chief Director, SADC Executive Secretary; Mr Stephen Browne,
Deputy Executive Director, ITC. There will also be an opportunity for
'Questions and Answers' and one on one interviews.
The ITC is a co-operation agency of the United Nations and the World Trade
Organisation, providing technical assistance to enterprises, trade support
institutions and policy makers.
Date: Tuesday, 14 November 2006
Time: 14h00 � 15h00
Place: Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 6th floor, JCC House,
Corner Empire and Owl Street, Milpark
RSVP: phila@columbine.co.za by 12h00
on Thursday, 9 November 2006
Final Programme
"Bridges across Borders"
Regional Networking Event from 13 to 15 November 2006, Centurion Lake
Hotel
Centurion, South Africa
13 November 2006
08h30 � 09h00: Registration and Distribution of Appointment Schedules
09h00 � 09h30: Opening Remarks
Mr Tshediso Matona, Director General, the dti, South Africa
Mr Remigius Makumbe, Acting Chief Director, SADC Executive Secretary
Mr Stephen Browne, Deputy Executive Director, ITC
9h30 � 10h15: Regional Opportunities in Transportation and Logistics
Mr Remigius Makumbe, Acting Chief Director, SADC Executive Secretary
10h15 � 11h45: Coffee Break
10h45 � 12h30: Moderator: Ms Doreen Conrad, Chief Trade in Services Section,
ITC
Each panellist will have 5 minutes to present his or her views on challenges
facing service providers in the region:
Mr Johny Smith, Business Development Executive, Walvis Bay Corridor Group,
Namibia
Mr Pradeep Maharaj, Head of Transport and Logistics, Transnet, South
Africa
Ms Brenda Horne, CEO, Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative, Mozambique
Mr Victor Lungu, Director of Panning, Ministry of Transport & Public Works,
Malawi
Mr Luiz Saraiva, Head, Association of Shipping and Forwarding Agents,
Angola
12h30 � 14h00: Lunch Break
14h00 � 18h00: Bilateral Consultations (as per appointment schedules)
18h00 � 20h00: Cocktail Reception (Patio, Centurion Lake Hotel)
14 November 2006 Construction and Engineering
08h30 � 09h30: Registration and Distribution of Appointment Schedules
09h30 � 10h15: Regional Opportunities in Construction and Engineering Mr Roelof
van Tonder, Group of Africa Member Associations of Consulting Engineers
10h15 � 10h45: Coffee Break
10h45 � 12h30 Regional Challenges in Construction & Engineering
Moderator: Dr Raymond Ngcobo, Strategic Competitiveness Unit, the dti
Each panellist will have 5 minutes to present his/her views on challenges
facing service providers in the region
Ms Patricia Emmet, Council Member, International Union of Architects,
Mauritius
Mr Nhlanhla Maphanga, President, Association of Architects, Engineers and
Surveyors, Swaziland
Mr Markus von Jeney, Executive Director, Engineering Council, Namibia
Mr Holland C Mulenga, President, Surveyors' Institute of Zambia
12h30 � 14h00: Lunch Break
14h00 � 18h00: Bilateral Consultations (as per appointment schedule)
15 November 2006
08h30 � 09h30: Registration and Distribution of Appointment Schedules
09h30 � 10h15: Regional Opportunities in Financial Services
Mr Cas Coovadia, Executive Director, SADC Banking Association
10h15 � 10h45: Coffee Break
10h45 � 12h30: Regional Challenges in Financial Services
Moderator: Mr Friedrich Von Kirchbach, Director, Department of Product
and
Market Development, ITC
Each panellist will have 5 minutes to present his/her views on challenges
facing
service providers in the region:
Mr Mokwena Morulane, Corporate Affairs Executive, International Financial
Services Centre, Botswana
Mr Thokoane Tsolo, Head: African Unit, Industrial Development
Corporation,
South Africa
Mr George Patridge, President, Bankers Association of Malawi
Mr Emmanuel Mutunzi, Chairman, Association of Microfinance Institutions,
Rwanda
12h30 � 14:00 Lunch Break
14h00 � 18h00: Bilateral Consultations (as per appointment)
For further information:
Columbine communications
Tel.: (011) 880 8137
Cell: 084 880 8138
Henriette van der Merwe
Tel: (012) 394 1640
Cell: 072 316 5533
Bongani Lukhele
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Cell: 083 291 8689
Bethuel Mnguni
Tel: (012) 394 1647
Cell: 083 624 8888
Please address all your media enquiries to:
E-mail: mediarelations@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
8 November 2006
