Tuesday March 27, 2012

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Shannon de Ryhove

Making headlines:

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has invested R736-million in incentives in the food-processing sector over the past three years, Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies said. Addressing representatives from the food-processing sector in Johannesburg to discuss impediments to accelerated growth in the sector, he stated that the DTI’s Enterprise Investment Programme had disbursed funds of R636-million, thereby facilitating investments of R3.7-billion in the sector and contributing to the retention of 14 000 jobs, while creating 7 000 news jobs. The department’s Cooperative Incentive Scheme had also disbursed more than R100-million in support of agro-processing projects.

Jim Yong Kim, the US pick to take over at mid-year as head of the World Bank, launches a world tour today to seek support for his candidacy. Kim, a Korean-American, will be contesting two nominees from emerging market countries – Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo – for the World Bank's top job. The Treasury Department said Kim will visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi, Brasilia and Mexico City between March 27 and April 9 to meet heads of State, finance ministers and others to talk about priorities for the World Bank.

Rights activists began a legal bid to compel South Africa to investigate and prosecute citizens of neighbouring Zimbabwe suspected of crimes against humanity. The activists argue that South Africa is failing to meet its obligations under international law. A court ruling in their favour would cause a headache for South Africa, which could see its courts clogged with prosecutions and its diplomacy with the power-sharing government in Harare hobbled. President Robert Mugabe and top members of his Zanu-PF party are already subject to international sanctions for suspected human rights abuses including using death squads to intimidate voters and torturing political prisoners.

Also making headlines:

The US said it would suspend some aid to Mali after last week's coup, estimating $60-million to $70-million may be affected, but stressed it would maintain food and humanitarian assistance.

And, Syria has formally responded to the six-point peace plan put forward by Kofi Annan, joint special envoy for the UN and Arab League, and backed by world powers, Annan's spokesperson said.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.