ZIMBABWE, whose economy has been reduced to a basket case owing to years of mismanagement, is among the 12 southern African states that committed themselves to setting up a free trade area (FTA) at the weekend, but concern mounted this week that the country may not get a fair deal from integrating its sickly economy with the rest of the region.

They arrived in trickles - a Chinaman, hawking cloth, needles, threads, selling cakes, eggs, shoes, cheap showy jewellery - bangles, trinkets, artificial flowers, electronic gadgets and the like.

Early this month, 11 out of 14 members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) signed a document that will abolish tariffs.

For the SADC Trade Protocol to yield the desired results competition policies must be effectively implemented by the 14-member states, a senior Botswana government official, has said.

Kenya could start importing low-priced crude oil from Sudan as early as next month.

Zimbabwe has earned more than US$35 million annually from beef exports over the last few years but there is need to continue upgrading the cattle industry, an official at the Livestock Identification Trust has said.

Trade minister Janat Mukwaya has urged residents of Buvuma County to go slow in their pursuit for district status.

The Government has banned the export of raw cashewnuts and bixa.

No sugar imports will be allowed into the country until new regulations are gazetted, the Government said on Wednesday.

NIGERIA is not one of the countries that have been profiting from the $400 billion (about N50.4 trillion) global textile trade.

Manufactures of splash juice Britania Allied industries Ltd are eyeing the European market to increase on its market share. According to Britania Allied Industries Ltd, General Manager - Marketing K. R Sridharan, the company is targeting to increase its sales by moving beyond the local and regional markets.

In December 2007, unrest broke out in the diamond mining region of Kono in the east, between kimberlite mining corporation Koidu Holdings and locals in the lease area.

The Vice President of International Programs, Corporate Council of Africa, Robert Perry has disclosed that America has come to partner with the African community in areas of trade and development to develop potential business partners from outside the country to Nigeria.

Delegates issue Yaounde call after two-day meeting.

While piracy accounts for almost 7% of all global trade, Nigeria accounts for 80% of the pirated international music CDs. In this illustrative essay, Michael Dibie captures the damaging effect of piracy on global trade.

Importers of fast-moving consumer goods are up in arms against a decision by the Kenya Bureau of Standards to introduce a quality mark on all imported goods sold in Kenya by October 1.

Delegates of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries have declared their intension to send a hand of fellowship to their counterparts of Central and Latin America so they sit on one negotiating table in order to reach a compromise that can be endorsed by the competent authorities of the World Trade Organisation and put an end to the long drawn so called banana war.

When Kenya purchased Toyota vehicles for its military forces, instead of the all-pervasive Land Rover, it signalled a seismic change -- in effect ending the most favoured status enjoyed by imports sourced from its erstwhile colonial master the United Kingdom.

In bid to facilitate trade and promote business growth in Rwanda, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and the Private Sector Federation have established a tax issues forum (TIF).

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono will tomorrow address both existing and potential exporters at a conference to be held in the capital.

Government will in future involve the private sector in shaping Botswana's foreign policy.

PHENIX Logistics has earned $780,000 (about sh1.3b) from export of organic cotton products in the last eight months.

SUPERMARKET chain Nakumatt Holdings has set aside more than $20m (sh32.8b) for expansion in East Africa.

TRADERS are angry over what they called unfair trade agreements Uganda has signed with other East Africa Community (EAC) partners.

The launch of a free trade area (FTA) within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) has brought the region one step closer to a regional customs union by 2010. But the launch of the FTA at the recent SADC heads of state summit was met with mixed reaction.