Trading across borders is a risky business, but the potential returns are high. That said, having a successful business in South Africa is not in itself a good enough reason to consider exporting it. The first leg of the biannual My Business Expo, held at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on Thursday, treated delegates to panel discussions on how to go about getting their businesses ready for cross-border trade, among other things.

The key focus of those discussions, was expanding into Africa, where the risks are particularly high because of the poor interconnectedness between countries within the region, meaning every country had its own set of rules and regulations, [...]

Throughout time, storytelling has largely influenced how people behave and perceive each other across the world. It is this single factor instilled in individuals since childhood that has contributed to stereotyping and prejudice across societies and cultures. Stories have instigated wars and political mudslinging, racial segregation and gender discrimination, generational and cross-country hostility, and bitterness between low and high-income communities. Even Africa is perceived in a certain way because of the stories being told about it. The role of traditional media and social media are key players in the way the world views Africa, and possibly contributes to putting the brakes [...]

the energy minister said on Monday, almost a decade after the policy to promote biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel was first approved.

A net importer of crude, Africa’s most industrialised economy wants biofuels initially to meet two percent, or about 400 million litres, of the country’s annual fuel consumption to wean itself off oil imports and improve the trade balance.

However, regulatory uncertainty centred on financial support incentives to manufacturers has choked investment since the approval of a national biofuels strategy in 2007.

“The department will be tabling this biofuel framework to cabinet for its consideration and approval before end of March [...]

The price of petrol will push to a record high from midnight on Tuesday, with the central energy fund (CEF) announcing that under-recovery in August would prompt fuel increases ranging from 99c to R1.79.

The price of unleaded 93 petrol will therefore rise 99c, unleaded 95 R1 and diesel R1.24. Illuminating paraffin will cost an additional R1.04 and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) R1.79.

The Automobile Association has warned that the increases — a record when not factoring in months when new taxes took effect — will be “catastrophic” for motorists.

The Department of Energy had intervened in August’s increase by diverting funds from the state levy, [...]