THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) is set to launch a free trade area next week when leaders meet for the SADC heads of state summit.

THE next round of trade talks between developing countries and the European Union on new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), might be more open to concerns raised by African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations so that a more favourable deal might be reached by the end of the year, a top official of the Trade and Industry Ministry said yesterday.

Traders at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Badagry Expressway yesterday urged President Umaru Yar'Adua to quickly intervene in the impasse generated by the controversial concessioning of the N200 billion facility to Aulice Nigeria Ltd by Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).

Southern African leaders will launch the regional free trade area this month, signalling the creation of one of the largest free trade zones on the African continent with some 250 million people.

The soaring international prices of liquid fuels have led to a sharp drop in Mozambique's fuel imports, according to data presented on Wednesday at a meeting of the Coordinating Council of the Ministry of Energy, held in the town of Songo, in Tete province.

"Stop throwing money at us carte-blanche, rather first engage us to determine our needs."

At the heart of the collapse of the World Trade Organisation's Doha Round last week are the different opinions on liberalisation and its relation to development.

The Tanzania shilling is expected to have mixed trade in the coming week, with some dealers expecting it to strengthen slightly, while others see it holding steady.

THE Government is in advanced stages of procuring a ferry to replace MV Kabalega.

UGANDAN tea exporters pay double tax in Kenya, Raymond Agaba, the acting commissioner in charge of internal trade, has revealed.

THE credibility of a key state institution - tasked with administering fair trade - is in doubt after it lost yet another court battle, raising questions about its institutional capacity to fulfil its mandate.

THE 2008 edition of the Zimbabwe International Travel Expo has been moved to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds in Bulawayo as the exhibition seeks more space to accommodate the growing number of exhibitors and promote the development of tourism in the country's southern parts.

THE case for local companies exhibiting their products and services at foreign trade fairs and related platforms has been given credence by the performance of Zimbabwean firms at the Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show that ended on Monday.

A top businessman and some economists in Namibia are optimistic that the proposed Southern African Development Community (SADC) Customs Union will break down trade barriers in the region and create competition that will benefit the ordinary consumer.

The Department of State for Trade, Industry and Employment, in collaboration with the Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation, yesterday started a three-day training seminar on the World Trade Organisation's notification requirements under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreements, at the Corenthia Atlantic Hotel, Banjul.

Namibia and South Africa yesterday held their seventh bilateral meeting that covered various sectors that would enhance economic development between the two countries.

THE Uganda Flowers Exporters Association (UFEA) has launched a branding and marketing initiative to convey the quality and artistry of cut flowers.

GOVERNMENT has banned the importation of drugs and other medical supplies through all border posts around the country except for two designated points - Beitbridge and Plumtree.

Safeguards to protect small farmers' livelihoods in African and other developing states, as opposed to subsidies for commercial agricultural interests in rich countries, remained an insurmountable obstacle in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks, leading the Doha Round to collapse last week.

UGANDA imported about 850 million litres of petroleum products worth $500m (sh820b) last year, the energy state minister has disclosed.

CHINESE growth has shown little sign of dipping in the last five years. Exports have continually increased while currency reserves have exploded.

MATTERS agricultural continue to stymie world trade talks, but they are not the only obstacles.

THE Kenya High Commission will host a trade fair and conference at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 19 to 21. The initiative is aimed at creating a platform for business linkages between South African and Kenyan businesses through expanded trade and business development opportunities.

IN AN effort to realise a long-term strategic goal of achieving 9% economic growth by 2014, the City of Johannesburg is pulling out all the stops to promote inward investment and increase the volume and value of exports by small and medium enterprises.

BRAZIL and SA are not only both considered important emerging markets, but share a history of authoritarian rule and profound poverty. Marja Tuit spoke to Brazilian ambassador José Vicente de Sa¡ Pimentel.