“The wide-ranging state of the nation address (SONA) delivered by president Cyril Ramaphosa to Parliament recognised the grave socio-economic challenges currently faced by South Africa, especially its low growth and high unemployment.”

In recognition of the excellent work done by Prof Wilma Viviers in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) TRADE research entity under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Chairs Programme over the past few years, the WTO has agreed that the Chair will continue to be hosted by the NWU after its initial four-year run, with Prof Viviers remaining the Chair holder.

Three students from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng recently represented Southern Africa at the Asia Pacific Leadership Summit that took place in Brisbane, Australia from 4 to 9 February 2020.

The latest publication by Statistics SA on the electricity generated in the country was released on 6 February 2020 and indicated that electricity generation decreased by 4,0% year-on-year from December 2018 to December 2019.

At the start of 2020 the South African economic outlook seems dire. According to economist Prof Danie Meyer, director of the TRADE research focus area at the North-West University (NWU), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that economic growth will be set at below 1% for the year.

“Although the implementation of Brexit tonight, 31 January 2020 obviously marks an historic fork in the road in the economic relations between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (UE), not much will change in the immediate future.”

The end of January saw the start of many aspiring MBA students’ journey to success when the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Business School once again hosted a very successful Summer Study School in Potchefstroom.

“The Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC's) decision to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points is a welcome recognition of the need to reduce borrowing costs for business and consumers in South Africa.”

According to economist Prof Danie Meyer, director of the TRADE research focus area at the North West University, 2020 is expected to be a year full of economic and geopolitical instability and volatility. The year has started on the wrong foot already, with Eskom implementing load shedding as early as the first week of the year. "It is a worrying situation, as most mines and large factories have not yet started their operations!

The latest worse-than-expected growth figures for the third quarter of 2019 again emphasise the urgent need to implement a credible turnaround plan to lift the economy out of its current 'low growth trap'.