Global

The adoption of new technologies in the mining sector and innovation around robotics and mechanisation is helping to enhance South Africa's global competitiveness, writes Brand SA board member Rick Mennell.

By working with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, a leading European university in the field of innovation and natural sciences, the University of Cape Town aims to ensure that there is an African voice in the global debates around issues such as health and urbanisation.

The new Brics development bank, through its Africa branch in South Africa, will mobilise resources for "transformational" infrastructure development projects that will boost the continent's integration, says Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.

South African President Jacob Zuma has hailed the establishment of a Brics development bank as "an everlasting legacy that will change the face of global economics and the face of all the developing world for the better".

South African President Jacob Zuma has hailed the establishment of a Brics development bank as "an everlasting legacy that will change the face of global economics and the face of all the developing world for the better".

The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, meeting at the sixth Brics summit in Fortaleza on Tuesday, agreed to advance discussions on a roadmap for closer economic cooperation within the emerging market grouping.

The leaders of the Brics emerging market bloc have signed an agreement paving the way for the establishment of a New Development Bank, to be headquartered in Shanghai, China, as well as an African regional centre of the bank, to be located in South Africa.

South Africa was set to hand over the chair of the Brics grouping at the start of the sixth Brics summit in Fortaleza on Tuesday. President Jacob Zuma is leading a high-level South African government and business delegation to the two-day summit.

South Africa will put forward a strong case at this week's Brics summit in Brazil for the proposed Brics development bank to be located in Johannesburg, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Friday.

South African petrochemicals giant Sasol has teamed up with Mozambican state oil company ENH and Italian multinational Eni to conduct a pre-feasibility study for a gas-to-liquids plant in Mozambique, based on future production from one of the world's largest gas finds of the last decade.