Economy

South Africa's cosmetics industry has begun the process of developing a black economic empowerment plan for the sector.

President Thabo Mbeki met his his counterpart from Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore this week in the first such high-level contact between the two countries.

A new survey shows a growth in the number of South Africa businesses exporting - despite a levelling out of global trends. Africa and Western Europe are SA's favoured export destinations, with China providing new opportunities - while the number of firms exporting to the US has declined.

Agroprocessing, chemical, energy, engineering, financial, mining, telecoms, tourism, vehicle manufacturing ... check out our quick links to doing business in South Africa, arranged by sector.

South Africa moved another step closer to diversifying its energy sources when synfuels producer Sasol opened an 865km natural gas pipeline from Mozambique. A new power plant commissioned by the government may go the way of natural gas too.

Despite the stagnation of global markets, total investment in South Africa grew by more than 8% in the first half of 2003, while private investment expanded by 7%, with net private capital flows expected to top the US$110-billion mark for 2003 - the highest level since the mid-1990s.

The Industrial Development Corporation, a government-owned development finance institution, has signed a US$125-million loan agreement with a number of international commercial banks.

A guide to the correct usage of South Africa's National Flag, compiled by the Southern African Vexillological Association.

A revolutionary financial system set to be introduced by the department of justice will allow divorced women to draw their maintenance money from automatic teller machines installed at magistrates courts throughout South Africa.

Local and foreign investors looking for black economic empowerment partners in the IT, telecoms and electronics sectors can now consult an online database of information on South African BEE companies, based on a solid, layered definition of empowerment, and growing all the time.