Will Meet in Africa 2008, which seems to have been scheduled from November 14-18, really be held in Khartoum? Will people attend this fair after the world crime tribunal has expressed serious reservations about Sudan’s president? And how far will and can international organizations support and promote this event in a country that has officially been branded as violating human rights? Will it be safe to visit considering that the UN has pulled out its non essential personnel?  

As I write this the world’s eyes are on the Olympic Games in Beijing and I am waiting hopefully for my Chinese visa so that I can attend the ACLE.
I have just received a charming message from Dr Venkatasubramanian Sivakumar who thanks me for apologising for Britain’s past mistreatment of his countrymen. I wrote that this period in India’s history had engendered great tolerance among the Indian people which was part of the glue that holds the Union of India together.

Statistics Georgia reports that Georgia imported leather products worth US$4.81 million in the first half of this year. Imports of raw hides and skins were worth US$373,400.

Spain's National Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather and leather products in Spain in June was 15.3% lower than in the same month last year. Industrial output in Spain in June was 9.5% lower year-on-year.

Russia's State Statistics Committee reports that there were an estimated 22.7 million head of cattle on farms in Russia on July 1 this year, 1.1% fewer than on the same date in 2007, according to the Interfax news agency.

The Statistical Office of Kosovo reports that Kosovo exported leather and leather products worth E560,000 in May, compared with E401,000 in May last year.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that Hungary imported leather and leather products worth E114.7 million in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year decrease of 4.7%.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that Hungary imported leather and leather products worth E114.7 million in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year decrease of 4.7%.

Türkiye's State Statistics Institute reports that Türkiye exported raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$64.3 million in the first half of this year, compared with US$59.8 million in the same period in 2007.

Albania's National Statistics Institute reports that Albania imported leather and leather products worth US$48.0 million in the first half of this year, compared with imports worth US$53.9 million in the same period in 2007.

The Statistical Office of the Bosnian Serb Republic reports that the production of leather and leather products in the Republic in the first seven months of this year was 7.1% lower than in the same period in 2007.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that Ukraine exported leather and leather products worth US$209 million in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 14.6%.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that there were 6 million head of cattle in Ukraine on August 1 this year, a decrease of 9.6% compared with the number on the same date in 2007.

A meeting of the Vietnamese-Uzbek inter-governmental commission on trade, economic and scientific co-operation in Hanoi in mid-August was expected to discuss ways in which the two countries can co-operate in the tanning industry, according to UzReport.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Hungary in the first half of this year was 18.2% higher than in the same period in 2007.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federal Office of Statistics reports that the production of leather and leather products in Bosnia and Herzegovina in July was 17.9% lower than in June and 6.8% lower than in July 2007.

Slovenia's Statistics Office reports that the number of cattle slaughtered in slaughterhouses in Slovenia in June, 9,347, was 8.3% lower than in May and 1.5% higher than in June 2007.

Vietnamese and Mexican leather and shoe industry officials agreed at a seminar in Mexico City on July 31 to increase bilateral trade in these commodities, according to the Vietnamese News Agency.

Poland's Central Statistical Office reports that Poland exported raw hides and skins worth E21.1 million in 2007.

Statistics Georgia reports that Georgia imported leather products worth US$4.81 million in the first half of this year. Imports of raw hides and skins were worth US$373,400. Georgia exported raw hides and skins worth US$1.20 million, and leather products worth US$140,600, in the same period.

Spain's National Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather and leather products in Spain in June was 15.3% lower than in the same month last year. Industrial output in Spain in June was 9.5% lower year-on-year.

Russia's State Statistics Committee reports that there were an estimated 22.7 million head of cattle on farms in Russia on July 1 this year, 1.1% fewer than on the same date in 2007, according to the Interfax news agency.

The Statistical Office of Kosovo reports that Kosovo exported leather and leather products worth E560,000 in May, compared with E401,000 in May last year. Kosovo imported the same types of commodities worth E172,000 in May, as against E195,000 in May 2007.

The Statistical Office of Kosovo reports that Kosovo exported leather and leather products worth E560,000 in May, compared with E401,000 in May last year. Kosovo imported the same types of commodities worth E172,000 in May, as against E195,000 in May 2007.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that Hungary imported leather and leather products worth E114.7 million in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year decrease of 4.7%.

Türkiye's State Statistics Institute reports that Türkiye exported raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$64.3 million in the first half of this year, compared with US$59.8 million in the same period in 2007

Albania's National Statistics Institute reports that Albania imported leather and leather products worth US$48.0 million in the first half of this year, compared with imports worth US$53.9 million in the same period in 2007.

The designers of the latest model of Lotus sports car appreciate the luxuriousness that a top-of-the-range leather interior can provide. According to the company's press release: ‘The extensive use of handcrafted, premium leather differentiates the Evora from other Lotus products and such is its importance to the character of the car that an entire new trim shop has been built at the Lotus headquarters in Norfolk, UK, dedicated to its production.'

Cattle prices in the US should reach record highs and continue to set records in 2009 and 2010, according to Purdue University Extension Economist Chris Hurt. In a report analyzing current cattle trends, Hurt noted that beef supplies are expected to be about 2% higher in the third quarter, and then drop by 5% in the final quarter of this year. Assuming third quarter live cattle prices average about $97 per hundredweight, and fourth quarter prices near $100, Hurt estimates choice steer prices will average $95 for the whole of 2008, which would be $3 higher than last year's record.

Serbia's Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Serbia in the first half of this year was 4.3% lower than in the same period in 2007. In comparison, Serbian industrial output in the January to June period this year was 4.1% higher year-on-year.

Croatia's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Croatia exported leather and leather products worth US$187 million in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 12%. Croatian imports of the same types of commodities in the January to June period were 17.9% higher year-on-year at US$244 million.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that leather and leather products' sales in Ukraine were worth US$200 million in the first half of this year, compared with US$137 million in the same period in 2007. 

Uzbekistan's State Statistics Committee reports that the number of cattle in Uzbekistan on April 1 this year was 5.6% higher than on the same date in 2007. The number of cattle on private farms on April 1 was 434,900 head, including 147,000 cows, and increased by 11.5% in the first quarter of this year, year-on-year.

Belarus' Ministry of Agriculture and Food reports that raw hides were one of only two agricultural commodities not to see an increase in their export in the first five months of this year compared with the same period in 2007, according to the Belta news agency.

Poland's Central Statistics Office reports that the production of cattle in Poland in the first half of this year was 2.7% higher than in the same period in 2007.

Macedonia's State Statistical Office has reported that the production of leather and leather products in Macedonia in the first half of this year was 8.5% lower than in the same period in 2007. In comparison, manufacturing output in Macedonia in the January to June period was 9.9% higher year-on-year.

JBS-Swift & Co's foray into bioenergy will move forward after getting a hefty financial boost.

Natural Innovative Renewable Energy are to build a 60 million gallon/year biodiesel plant that will use beef tallow from Beef Products Inc's plant in South Sioux City, Nebraska, as one of their raw material sources. The plans call for the $100 million project to begin construction this year or early next year and begin production around 18 months later.

JBS SA, parent of Greeley, Colorado-based JBS-Swift & Co, say that results for their US unit helped offset the fourth straight quarterly loss overall for the Brazilian beef producer.