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1,253 documents from South African Institute of International Affairs
The Cost of Non-tariff Barriers to Business along the North–South Corridor (South Africa–Zimbabwe) via Beit Bridge A Preliminary Study
This 2008 report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the economic impact of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) on the North-South Corridor between South Africa and Zimbabwe, specifically focusing on the Beit Bridge border crossing and Durban port. The study identifies administrative and trade policy barriers—most notably Zimbabwean foreign exchange controls and regional transport inefficiencies—as significant costs to businesses across various sectors including mining, fuel, and agriculture.
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Document type: Report
Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade in Southern Africa: Towards a Measurement Approach
This 2008 report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on the road transport corridor between Durban and Gaborone. The study aims to develop a measurement approach for NTBs by quantifying direct and indirect costs—such as toll fees, fuel consumption from stop-start operations, and downtime—to determine their impact on supply chain costs and overall export competitiveness.
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Document type: Report
Workshop on NTBs: Synopsis of Discussions
This briefing provides a synopsis of discussions from a November 2007 workshop hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) regarding Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and logistics-related obstacles to trade in Southern Africa.
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Document type: Briefing
2nd KOREA-AFRICA FORUM SEMINAR
A statement delivered at the 2nd Korea-Africa Forum Seminar on November 15, 2007, discussing the historical ties between South Africa and the Republic of Korea, the developmental challenges facing Africa, and the potential for Africa to learn from Korea's rapid economic transition from a war-ravaged nation to a developed economy.
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Document type: Statement
OPENING REMARKS BY ELIZABETH SIDIROPOULOS
Opening remarks by Elizabeth Sidiropoulos of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) at the Korea Africa Forum Intersessional Meeting in Johannesburg on 15 November 2007.
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Document type: Briefing
Charting Africa's Chinese Future
This research paper examines the evolving economic and political relationship between China and Africa following a strategic partnership summit. It analyzes the tensions between China's rapid investment and development goals and the emerging concerns in Africa regarding colonial-style economic ties, labor standards, and the risk of deindustrialization.
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Document type: Research paper
REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN CENTRAL AFRICA
This briefing examines the state of regional integration in Central Africa, focusing on the roles and interactions of the Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). It analyzes the institutional frameworks, the impact of colonial legacies, the influence of external actors like France and the EU, and the challenges posed by overlapping memberships and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations.
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Document type: Briefing
MALAWI AND THE REGIONAL OVERLAP PROBLEM
This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the trade policy challenges facing Malawi due to its dual membership in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It analyzes the technical and political implications of these overlapping memberships, particularly as these regional economic communities move toward forming customs unions, and evaluates the impact on Malawi's trade profiles and its negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.
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Document type: Briefing
Southern and Eastern Africa, the Doha Agenda and Aid for Trade
This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the 'aid for trade' initiative within the context of the WTO's Doha Development Agenda and its implications for Southern and Eastern Africa. It analyzes the recommendations of the WTO Aid for Trade Task Force, the role of the African Group, and the intersection of trade-related assistance with other multilateral frameworks like the Enhanced Integrated Framework (IF) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union.
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Document type: Report
National Chairman's Annual Statement 2007
The National Chairman's Annual Statement 2007 from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) discusses South Africa's role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and the challenges of balancing its aspirational, human-rights-based foreign policy with the realities of global realpolitik.
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Document type: Statement
RECs in Eastern and Southern Africa: Attractive Aspects for Zimbabwe
This briefing by Dr M Masiiwa of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the strategic options for Zimbabwe as it faces a choice between joining the proposed Customs Unions of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) or the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). While Zimbabwe has stronger existing trade links and political ties with SADC, the document suggests a preference for COMESA due to its larger market, more balanced economic competition, and faster pace of integration.
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Document type: Briefing
From Hegemony to Champion: South Africa and Strategic Balance
This research paper by Kurt Shillinger analyzes South Africa's transition from a regional hegemon during the apartheid era to a self-appointed champion of the 'Global South' in international diplomacy. It argues that while regional strategic rebalancing within southern Africa is not currently underway, South Africa is actively pursuing a rebalancing of global economic and diplomatic power through non-aligned blocs and the United Nations.
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Document type: Research paper
What the blocs are missing
The paper critiques African regional economic communities, particularly the Southern African Development Community (SADC), for lacking the transparency and organizational capacity to achieve their goals. It argues that these bodies often serve as diplomatic facades for national leaders rather than effective instruments for regional development, and calls for the application of the African Union's standards of accountability to these multinational organizations.
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Document type: Research paper
Will al-Bashir chair the AU?
This research paper examines the conflict between the African Union's (AU) commitment to democracy and its rotational system for selecting the annual chairmanship, specifically regarding Sudan's claim to the position in 2007. The author argues that appointing Omar al-Bashir, amidst the Darfur crisis, would damage the AU's international credibility and operational effectiveness.
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Document type: Research paper
Francophone Africa’s Jewel
This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the experiences of South African firms operating in Senegal. It describes Senegal as a stable, democratic gateway to Francophone West Africa with a strong macroeconomic profile, though it notes significant business constraints including rigid labour laws, corruption, and limited local disposable income.
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Document type: Report
Gender,Remmitances andDevelopment Preliminary Findings From Selected SADC Countries
This 2007 report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and UN-INSTRAW examines the gender dimensions of migration and remittances within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It highlights the increasing 'feminization' of migratory flows and the critical role of remittances as a household livelihood strategy, while noting a significant lack of sex-disaggregated data and gender-sensitive policies in the region.
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Document type: Report
The Daunting Task of Peer Review in Africa
This research paper examines the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as a core component of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), analyzing the structural, financial, and political challenges that hinder its ability to hold African governments accountable for governance and socio-economic development.
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Document type: Research paper
Breaking the Darfur Impasse
This report by Ayesha Kajee of the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the failure of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan. It details the inadequacy of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission, the Sudanese government's resistance to UN intervention, and the complex drivers of the conflict, including ethnic tensions and the politics of natural resources.
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Document type: Report
Regional Integration and liberalisation of Trade in Services in SADC
This briefing records a discussion on the liberalisation of trade in services within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It examines the current fragmented legal landscape, the role of South African foreign direct investment (FDI) in the region, and the challenges of creating a unified regional framework for services trade to improve economic integration and global competitiveness.
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Document type: Briefing
South African Trade Strategy: Rearranging the Deck Chairs?
This record of discussion from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the challenges and future directions of South Africa's trade strategy. The briefing covers the gridlock in the WTO Doha Round, the potential for unilateral trade liberalisation, the strategic value of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and the complexities of regional integration within SADC and SACU.
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Document type: Briefing