Mr. Osayaba Giwa-Osagie, Principal Partner Giwa-Osagie & Co was a participant at the 3^rd Nigeria Investment Summit which took place in New York, USA on 25^th and 26^th September 2012.

A South African company with a historic export record in Africa requested us to undertake an HS code study on the import of their products into selected African markets. The results revealed that while the company’s African exports had grown, they have in fact, lost considerable market share to their foreign competitors. What needed to be appreciated was that the market had grown and our client had not taken sufficient advantage of this.

The 2012 Mining Indaba highlighted a host of issues relating to mining on the African continent and Lex Africa, at the forefront of advising clients on both legislative developments and business practices relating to mining in Africa, was able to offer insights into key developments.

The last year saw much change throughout the African continent and Zambia, a key investment destination for foreign direct investment in Africa, was no exception.

The economic success Zambia has experienced over the past years is evidenced by the country’s progression from a low to a middle income country. In addition the stability brought on by the new democratically elected government will further establish Zambia as a key African investment destination

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority recently found that British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic Airways (VAA) were engaged in price fixing on the Nigeria UK route between 2004 and 2006 and fined BA USD 135 million and VAA USD 100 million. The Nigerian Federal Government has also indicated its readiness to file a class action suit against BA and VAA to compel them to pay the fines. Pieter Steyn, Chairman of Lex Africa and a director of Werksmans, Lex Africa's South African member, notes that competition law is increasingly becoming an important factor for consideration when doing business in Africa. Lex Africa's Nigerian member, Giwa Osagie & Co have summarised the existing Nigerian competition laws below.

Negotiations at the 17th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17) in November/December 2011 in Durban, South Africa could influence future economic growth and investment worldwide as it is planned that a legally binding agreement on global warming and gas emissions will be confirmed by the end of the Conference.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Mauritius delivered his Budget speech on 4 November 2011.

The Budget aims to provide for innovative measures to support key economic sectors (such as ICT/BPO, Tourism and the Financial Sector) and new markets (including renewable energy) The Budget also provides for a National Resilience Plan to support the economy in the global economic downturn. With these measures, Mauritius should maintain its first ranking on the 2011 Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, its first ranking in Africa on the Fraser Institute's Economic Freedom Index and its first ranking in Africa in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business study.

New Trends are emerging in the way South African law firms are doing business as they grapple with a changing marketplace says Des Williams, chairman of Werksmans Attorneys.

Zambia's 2011 Tripartite Elections
Zambia held its 5th democratic tripartite elections on the 20th September 2011 to
elect the President, Members of Parliament and Local Government Councilors. 10
political parties took part in the presidential race.

As South African law firms grapple with a changing marketplace, new trends are emerging in the way some are doing business.