South Africa to showcase its success at Davos

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15 January 2015

The high-level South African delegation of cabinet ministers and business leaders attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, from 20 to 25 January will be headed up by the President Jacob Zuma, the Presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.

The flagship event of the Swiss non-profit takes place every year at the end of January, and is attended by global leaders from across business, government, international organisations, academia and civil society – brought together to discuss the global economy.

The theme of this year’s conference, which runs from 21 to 24 January, is “The New Global Context”. WEF says on its website that this reflects the “profound” political, economic, social and technological transformations that confront the world today – changes that affect global decision-making and ones that are bringing “the era of economic integration and international partnership that began in 1989” to an end.

  • Watch an introduction to this year’s Davos programme:

The Presidency said South Africa planned to use the opportunity to market South Africa as an attractive and reliable investment destination as well as a development partner.

The gathering gives South Africa the opportunity to tell the country’s story of economic competitiveness, represented by the National Development Plan (NDP), the country’s policy framework for reducing unemployment, inequality and poverty by 2030.

The South African delegation will also share the story of its “achievements scored since the dawn of freedom in 1994, which brought about a better life for millions more citizens who had been excluded during the period of apartheid colonialism”, the Presidency said.

The areas of investment that South Africa plans to market include:

  • Mining and beneficiation;
  • Agro-processing;
  • Industrial infrastructure, including telecommunications, energy, water, sanitation and transport;
  • Tourism (primarily hotel and resort development);
  • Health care;
  • Manufacturing;
  • Information and communication technology; and
  • Forestry and related products.

Zuma will be accompanied by Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene; Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies; Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Jeff Radebe; Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane; Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel; and the South African Brand Ambassador, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

  • Support Team SA at Davos on social media by using the hashtag #SAinDavos.

SAinfo reporter and SAnews.gov