6 March 2013
As South Africa prepares to host the fifth BRICS summit in Durban later this month, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize says the gathering will boost the province’s image and economy.
Mkhize was speaking at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday during the KwaZulu-Natal leg of a countrywide roadshow aimed at raising awareness about the importance of the summit and the country’s membership of group of leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
With the two harbours, Richards Bay and Durban, the Dube Trade Port as well as the King Shaka International Airport, Mkhize said KwaZulu-Natal could create “win-win partnerships for our sister countries in our region”.
“As the undisputed gateway into the rest of Africa and other continents, we believe that we can use the province of KwaZulu-Natal not only for its own benefit, but for the benefit of other provinces as well as countries within the region.”
South Africa will host the BRICS summit with the aim of harnessing the country’s membership to benefit the entire African continent.
South Africa’s membership of BRICS is understood in the context of the country’s aim to tackle the developmental challenges faced by Africa as a whole, and its strategic focus on infrastructure as a key vehicle for creating jobs, boosting Africa’s overall competitiveness, and promoting regional integration on the continent.
Source: SAnews.gov.za
