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Monday, November 30, 2009.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Mary-Anne O'Donnell.

Making headlines today:

Nissan South Africa plans to increase annual vehicle production and expand its exports beyond Africa.

Nissan SA corporate and finance director Greg Field says government's new support programme, the Automotive Production and Development Programme, which will be introduced in 2013, has put an export focus on Nissan's business.

The APDP will replace the current Motor Industry Development Programme, which has a strong export-only focus.

Field says that Nissan believes the Middle East and Europe will provide high potential as export markets.

European businesses, growing frustrated at slow progress in the World Trade Organisation's Doha round, have called for the WTO to speed up negotiations this week.

The WTO is holding a ministerial conference from Monday to Wednesday, but negotiations on Doha are off the agenda.

Instead, ministers will review the WTO's work and its contribution to economic recovery and tackling problems such as climate change. Doha is likely to be discussed on the sidelines.

Economists argue about precise benefits of a Doha deal but political leaders and the WTO believe it will boost business confidence by removing uncertainty from the world economy.

Also making headlines:

Dubai's debt-repayment delay is unlikely to affect South African construction firms.
The 124-billion-rand Medupi price tag is another indication of Kusile's vulnerability as Eskom finalises its tariff request.
Abu Dhabi will aid Dubai on a 'case by case' basis.
And, a French finance institution gives South Africa carbon capture a boost.

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories please visit engineeringnews.co.za.