21 Oct 2015

Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Sadique Kebonang has left for Brussels, Belgium, to attend a meeting of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Ministers of Trade meeting scheduled for October 20 to 21.

A press release from the ministry states that the meeting was preceded by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) Ministers of Trade meetings on October 18 to 20 respectively.

It says the main objective of the meetings was to consider, among others, a common position on Agriculture, Non-Agricultural Market Access (NANA).

Furthermore, the release says the other main objective was to consider trade in services and consider progress on the trade facilitation agreements in preparation for the 10^th World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference to be held from December 15 -18 in Kenya. 

It further states that the meeting will also discuss the continental free trade area and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

The release says Mr Kebonang will chair the SADC Ministers of Trade meeting, and as the coordinator of the Southern African Development Community Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC/EPA), he is expected to give a progress report on the SADC-EPA negotiations.

The assistant minister will be accompanied by senior government officials from the ministry. Ends