Johannesburg, 3 December 2013 – Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane will on Wednesday 4 December 2013 profile South Africa’s competitiveness to Emirati business and tourists when Brand South Africa hosts a roundtable discussion in Dubai.
Brand South Africa Chairperson Chichi Maponya, CEO Miller Matola and Transnet Freight Rail CEO Siyabonga Gama will join Minister Chabane in deliberations with participants at the round-table which will profile South Africa’s infrastructure.
As the country’s reputation management and marketing agency, Brand South Africa will bring together a range of stakeholders in Dubai ranging from South Africans who are now resident in the country as well as Emirati businesspeople and investors to deliberate on South Africa’s value proposition. This includes, amongst others, our favourable investment climate, developed transport and telecommunications infrastructure, and a social structure that is free of gender or religious discrimination.
The discussion in the UAE complements Brand South Africa’s recent hosting of the country’s inaugural Competitiveness Forum which aimed to ignite the conversation around what needs to be done to improve the country’s reputation domestically and internationally.
Speaking from the UAE, Brand South Africa CEO Miller Matola said, “South Africa’s competitiveness and reputation must be driven by what we do rather than what we say. Each citizen in the country and outside therefore has a role to play in improving our country’s reputation. We each need to play our part and do best so that South Africa is seen as a reliable destination for international investors and tourists. Through this we can ensure our country’s grows economically and our social conditions can improve through the creation of jobs generated from these inward flows of investment.”
The conversation in the UAE can be followed on @Brand_SA on hashtag #SA_UAETalk.
Note to editors
South Africa’s infrastructure build programme
South Africa’s investment in infrastructure gained momentum in the years leading up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, and is set to expand as the foundation of a national growth and development strategy. The country’s electricity, water, transport and telecommunications networks are being extended, education and health capacity is being expanded, and human settlements are being built and upgraded to strengthen the fabric of communities.
Over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period, budgeted and approved public-sector projects total R844.5 billion. As announced in the State of the Nation Address 2013, the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission gives new impetus to the planning and implementation of major capital projects, raising the level of investment spending and contributing to industrial and regional development. All public-sector infrastructure projects will be subject to rigorous assessment to determine their feasibility and government chooses the most cost-effective projects that provide optimal long-term benefits.
In response to the challenge of facilitating fast-tracked government-led infrastructure investment, cabinet established the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC).
The PICC is mandated by Cabinet to plan and coordinate a National Infrastructure Plan. It is driven by the highest levels of political will and dedication to harmonise infrastructure planning and implementation across all spheres of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, State agencies as well as social partners. PICC interventions are cross-cutting yet targeted, seeking to crowd-in investment and mobilise efforts.
South Africa is integrating and phasing investment plans across 18 Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIPs) which have five core functions: to unlock opportunity, transform the economic landscape, create new jobs, strengthen the delivery of basic services and support the integration of African economies.
About Brand South Africa
Brand South Africa is the official marketing agency of South Africa, with a mandate to build the country’s brand reputation, in order to improve its global competitiveness abroad. Its aim is also to build pride and patriotism among South Africans, in order to contribute to social cohesion and nation brand ambassadorship.
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Media are invited to visit http://www.southafrica.info/ for further resources which can be reproduced without any copyright infringement. Kindly attribute to Brand South Africa.
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For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Arahna Singh
Brand South Africa Communications
Tel: +27 11 712 5061 Mobile: +27 (0) 82 491 2332
Email: arahnas@brandsouthafrica.com
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