WadeTradeNews

Welcome to Wade Trade News import-export news for August 2008. In this issue we'll update you on the latest trade opportunities in growing economies in Africa, Vietnam, China, Brazil, Russia, South East Europe, and offer some useful sites for trading with Egypt and getting started in trading gift products.

Following on from our report last month comes another report that Africa is likely to be the trade hotspot of the next decade. Economic growth in the member states of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) is projected to reach approximately 5.8% in 2008, according to official sources. The Bank of the Central African States (BEAC) in Brazzaville recently said that with economic growth projected to hit 5.8%, increased budget surplus, an improved current account balance and a foreign currency coverage rate of almost 100% the economic outlook can be described as positive. Formed in 1999 as a body for strengthening and deepening regional integration the CEMAC zone includes Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade says that Vietnam's export sales are expected to see strong growth this year. Agro-forestry and fisheries are expected to gross an export turnover of around US$11.68 billion, representing 19.1% of the country's total export revenues. Fuels and minerals are expected to gross US$13 billion, a year-on-year rise of 37%, and accounting for 21.2% of the country's total revenues. Exports of handicrafts, industrial and processing goods is expected to earn US$36.5 billion, a year-on-year increase of 25.3%, making up 59.7% of the country's total revenues. However, despite an increase in the number of orders and prices, textile and garment products (whose export revenues currently rank second after crude oil) are facing problems with high production overheads due to the rising cost of oil and other raw materials.

Brazil is aiming to make China its biggest trade partner, according to a senior Brazilian trade official. Welber Barral, Secretary of International Trade with Brazil's Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade, said the country was seeking more trade opportunities with China and a larger market share for its products in the Chinese market. He said Brazil wants to triple its exports there to reach US$30 billion by 2010.

China is now Brazil's third largest trade partner, while Brazil is China's top trade partner in Latin America. Chinese-Brazilian trade volume increased a massive ten times between 2000 to 2006 - mainly in farm produce and raw materials.

Russia's economic growth remained strong in the first half of 2008, with major economic indicators beating most forecasts. The Russian government has raised its economic growth forecast for 2008 to 7.1% - up from 6.7%. Russia's gross domestic product rose 8.3% during January-April 2008 alone, compared to the same period last year - according to Rosstat the Federal State Statistics Service.

The increase in GDP is mostly due to strong investment and consumer spending. In the first four months of the year, retail sales alone in Russia enjoyed a rise of almost 16%. Another area of strong economic growth is foreign trade, which grew 48.4% during the January-April period compared to a year earlier to reach US$235.2 billion. Exports rose 51.8% to US$150.3 billion and imports rose 42.8% to US$84.9 billion.

This site - www.russiaexport.net - offers all kinds of useful info. and contacts for trading with Russia. (Note that it's a private commercial site, not an official government one.)

The Balkan nations and other countries of south east Europe are a fast developing trading region, with many fast growing economies. This website - www.seeurope.net - keeps you up to date with the latest developments and investment and trade opportunities in the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey and Serbia. www.seeurope.net is run by the Bulgaria Economic Forum (BEF) and is supported by several international organisations including the OECD. Its aim is to integrate business information sources, provide up to date information about development and

assist regional and international companies with business interests in the region. The site includes detailed statistical information, country profiles, information on tax, law and the foreign trade regime plus news of infrastructure projects and business opportunities.

Egypt is well known for the pyramids at Giza and other magnificent ancient sites. However, it also has a buoyant manufacturing industry, producing a range of low cost products, that are not well known worldwide. Important Egyptian exports include foodstuffs, furniture, leather products, garments and textiles. Its key imports include chemicals, mechanical equipment, medical supplies, metal products, plastic products and refrigeration equipment. Egypt Search at www.egyptsearch.com is good for tracking down sources of leads and information you might need. The Egyptian Trading Directory at www.egtrade.com is a useful trading site which includes news, information and contacts and many little-known sources of supply.

If you're interested in trading gifts then here's a handy resource: Gift Focus is a leading trade magazine read by thousands of, mainly UK-based, trade contacts. Every issue of Gift Focus provides you with the very latest products, advice, inspiration and a wealth of professional help in making the best choices. The main categories of goods covered are : Children's products/games. China/glass/ceramics. Christmas products. Collectables. Craft products. Executive gifts. Fashion accessories. Furniture/lighting. Garden products. General giftware. Homeware. Interior accessories. Jewellery/watches. Kitchenware. Prints/pictures/frames. Stationery/desk items. Tabletop. Toiletries/aromatherapy. Visit: www.giftfocus.co.uk

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