SA delegation to take uniform message to WEF

Friday, January 16, 2015

Pretoria - Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene met with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of South Africa’s leading firms and business executives yesterday in an effort to construct a common approach for the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The objective of the briefing, which was also attended by Deputy Minister of Communications Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, coordinated key messages that South Africa would be taking to the summit.

“These discussions allowed for an opportunity to respond to key issues and to ensure a consistent and uniform message going forward,” the Ministry of Finance said in a statement after the meeting which was held in Sandton.

The South African delegation – which will be led by President Jacob Zuma - comprises government, business and civil society representatives.

South Africa’s three key messages, according to the Ministry are based on its National Development Plan (NDP), a long-term vision of the country and a tool to addressing its social and economic deficit.

In the meeting, Minister Nene outlined the key messages as:

  • South Africa remains a competitive business and investment destination of choice;
  • South Africa supports growth in Africa through regional integration and direct investment; and
  • South Africa continues to advocate for the developmental agenda of the South in its international engagements.

The 2015 WEF annual meeting will be held from 21-24 January in Davos, Switzerland, under the theme: “The New Global Context”.

This year, the meeting will focus on a political, economic, social and technological era the global economy has entered, following the worst global financial crisis since 1930.

Current affairs, such as the escalating geopolitical conflicts, pandemics, diverging growth and the new energy context are on the agenda as well. - SAnews.gov.za