In September, the Trade Hub conducted a Trade Data Analysis Training in Maseru, Lesotho to train technical staff at Lesotho's Ministry of Trade, Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing (MTCIM) and other relevant stakeholders working on trade issues. The two-day training was designed to enable participants to analyze trade policy issues and trade data, enhancing country trade negotiations.
The ability to conduct high quality analysis of trade data is essential for trade and for industrial policy making. Countries must know precisely what they are exporting and importing.
Government officials must know where to obtain trade data, how to analyze it and how to formulate policy recommendations based on this data. Similarly, sound international marketing strategies by the business sector are based on qualified analysis and assessment of trade data.
International and domestic business has been evolving from a transactional business, marketing era to a consultative era, and now to a new partnering era. African firms that want to be successful in the export market must embrace the partnering concept. This concept is like a marriage, where partners are not just in it for convenience, but for the long haul—think long-term—and both must give it their all for the relationship to be sustainable and beneficial.
The Trade Hub and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) recently concluded textile and apparel roundtable discussions in New York, Los Angeles and Miami with the largest representatives of the apparel industry, including Passport Brands, The Jones Group, Ann, Inc., Astor & Black, Orvis, Macy's, Bebe, Pacific Sunwear, Kellwood, Restore Clothing, Ralph Lauren and Edun. The conversations addressed the growth of the garment industry in Lesotho, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa since the adoption of AGOA duty-free legislation in 2000 and the diversification of garment items being produced.
With its abundant sunshine, access to advanced technology and widespread support for renewable energy operations, Southern Africa has the potential to develop into a significant provider of clean energy for the region. However, an important barrier must be removed to unleash the full capacity of the sector. The installation cost of clean energy technologies (CETs) is very high, and there is a lack of affordable and easily accessible financing schemes for the purchase, installation and maintenance of CETs.
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