‘Close collaboration key to maximising SADC-EU trade agreement’
Today 15:00 by FTW Online
EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström.
To promote trade that supports development and promotes inclusive growth, South Africa and the European Union (EU) need to work together to maximise the benefits of the EU-Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and move forward with its implementation.
This was the joint message put out by Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, and EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, following their bilateral meeting in Johannesburg yesterday to review their respective trade and investment agendas. They also took the opportunity to celebrate the one-year anniversary of putting the EU-SADC EPA into practice.
Addressing some 150 civil society representatives from the SADC region, the two further emphasised the need to closely monitor the impact of the EPA.
“As partners, it is our joint responsibility to ensure that the benefits of our economic partnership agreement are felt by all in the region. We all have a common goal – to create prosperity for people in southern Africa and in Europe. The EPA only delivers results if we work together,” said Malmström.
During her visit this week Malmström is set to give a lecture on global trade issues at the University of the Witwatersrand today (Tuesday). She will also visit an organic farm managed by a young black female entrepreneur, who intends to make use of the EPA to export organic agricultural products to Europe.