The European Union and six countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) last week signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), in Kasane, Botswana, according to a report by Bizcommunity.
The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland – the so-called SADC EPA group – is a development-oriented free trade agreement, the publiation reports.
The agreement was signed by commissioner for trade Cecilia Malmström on behalf of the EU. In addition to this agreement, other regional agreements could also soon be signed with West Africa and the East African Community. At the signature ceremony in Botswana, Commissioner Malmström gave a speech on the benefits of the agreement.
Commissioner Malmström said: “Trade is a tool to spur economic growth and sustainable development. It’s also an important factor for integrating regions and forming stronger bonds between countries. With the Economic Partnership Agreement that we are signing today, we want to base our trade relations with our partners in the Southern African region on commonly agreed, stable rules. Trade has helped lift millions of people from poverty throughout the years. Thanks to agreements like this one, we are preparing the ground for that process to continue.” (Bizcommunity)
Seedstars Durban finalists announced
Seedstars World, the global seed-stage startup competition for emerging markets and fast-growing startup ecosystems brought its second pre-selection round to a successful close during Seedstars Durban. The event took place past Wednesday at Mancosa, where 8 selected startups were invited to present their ideas in front of a jury panel. The South African competition is supported by Standard Bank, who will further support the startups on their path to success.
The top three startups of Durban to advance to the grand finale are Guardian Angel, a GPS tracking safety solution for children and pets, Vitls, a monitoring wearable medical device for vitals, and You, Baby & I, an online platform matching mongs to locations and interests. The other startups invited to pitch were Pocketpa, PicAdoo, X&Go, Wango, Digital Sauce.
“It was an amazing evening and we enjoyed every second of it. There was a great energy in the room and we were very impressed with the innovative companies coming out of Durban. We are very excited to be one of the finalists and we are up for the challenge of facing off against South Africa’s best.” says Werner Vorster, Co-founder and CEO of Vitls.
Report reveals where SA’s richest people live
According to the South Africa 2016 Wealth Report by New World Wealth, the Cape Town suburb of Camps Bay is likely the most exclusive suburb in South Africa, while the most exclusive suburb in Johannesburg is Sandhurst.
The report the top towns and suburbs in SA were ranked in terms of the number of homes valued at R20 million or more in each area.
In Johannesburg, Sandhurst is followed by Bryanston, Hyde Park, Houghton and Westcliff. In Cape Town, Camps Bay is followed by Clifton, Constantia and Tokai, Fresnaye, Bishopscourt Bantry Bay and Llandudno. Apart from Constantia and Tokay and Bishopscourt, all the other top exclusive Cape Town suburbs turned out to be along the city’s Atlantic Seaboard. (Fin24)
