SOUTH AFRICA: Unfair competition” from emerging nations is the focus of the European Union Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Southern Africa, which was officially launched in Johannesburg on. The stated sources of unfair competition include Brazil, Russia, India and China, which along with SA make up the Brics bloc. Brics is in the process of setting up a new development bank as an alternative to the US-dominated World Bank and International Monetary Fund
The €300,000 initiative to set up a new SA-based chamber came from the EU delegation in SA, EU chamber chairman of the board Stefan Sakoschek said.The EU is SA’s largest trading partner with about 2,000 European companies doing business in the country”We want a fair and competitive environment, especially in relation to Chinese imports,” said Mr Sakoschek. “Southern Africa needs to be careful in balancing its trading partners.”The EU chamber is to be the voice of the European private sector operating in SA. It took 20 months to make it happen.”Mr Sakoschek also said the new chamber aimed to influence South African and regional policy making, particularly in relation to substandard product imports from Asia.
