South African Institute of International Affairs Cordially invites you to a Speaker's Meeting to be addressed by the Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of South Africa HE Minister ROB DAVIES on “Trade Policy and Economic Growth.”

Date:        Monday, 4 April 2011

Time:       14h30 (to conclude by 17h00)

Venue:     Lombardy Estate Plot no 4, Lynnwood Road, Tweefontein, Pretoria, map and directions attached.

RSVP:     Nondumiso.Nqunqa

Tel:          (011) 339 2021 Ext 117 or Sarasa Ananmalay on 082 330 1610

Email: Nondumiso.Nqunqa@wits.ac.za

The debate around the future direction of economic policy in South Africa continues. Trade policy is a key component of plans to increase growth and expand employment. Building on the events that SAIIA has hosted in previous years to discuss South Africa’s trade policy, this meeting aims to contribute to the current debate through the discussion of topical issues that impact on the trading environment globally, in the region and at a domestic level. This will be an opportunity to present some of the work we have undertaken to the Minister of Trade and Industry and to get his response. The following three topics will form part of the wide-ranging session:

· Scenarios for the global trade policy environment: including the impact of an outcome in the WTO Doha Development Round. What is the likely direction of shifts in 2011 and what will be the implications for South Africa?

· Services trade liberalisation

· Growing South African exports: what policy measures could be taken to assist exporters, especially small and medium enterprises, and is there a role for trade zones in this debate?”

ROB DAVIES is Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of South Africa. Between June 2005 and May 2009 he was Deputy Minister in the same portfolio and has been an ANC Member of the South African Parliament since 1994. He previously chaired the Portfolio Committees of Finance and of Trade and Industry as well as the Sub-Committee of the Constitutional Assembly responsible for the Chapter 13 (Finance) of the Constitution.

Professionally, he has an Honours degree in Economics (from Rhodes University), a Masters in International Relations (from the University of Southampton) and a Doctorate in Political Studies (from the University of Sussex). Between 1979 and 1990, he was attached to the Centre of African Studies, Eduardo Mondlane University, working, until her murder in 1982, under the direction of the late Ruth First. Before entering parliament in 1994, he was Professor and Co-Director of the Centre for Southern African Studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). His research interests during this period focused on issues of Southern African regional cooperation and integration. He undertook policy research both for the ANC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and also became actively engaged with issues of globalisation and international trade.

Programme:

14h30-15h00 Registration and afternoon tea

15h00-15h15 Welcome and report back from trade policy retreat by Catherine Grant Makokera

15h15-15h45 Minister Rob Davies presentation

15h45-17h00 Response and discussion

Please note: Due to the popularity of this event, seating is limited and we will reserve bookings on a first come first serve basis. No walk in’s will be allowed.