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The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) welcomes the publication of the long awaited new growth path framework for South Africa. SACCI believes that it will be difficult to achieve the target of creating 5 million jobs within 5 years even though the sectors identified for specific attention are those that have the potential to contribute significantly to its attainment. Success will also depend to a large extent on the implementation of policies and incentives to grow the smme sector and on the cutting of red tape that currently hinders small business development. It will also be very important that the commitments and milestones identified in the growth path are adhered to, a task that will have to be undertaken by the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit in the Presidency.

SACCI supports the focus on engineering and artisan skills which were the subject of a key motion adopted at its Annual Convention last month. SACCI also supports the focus on the green economy as this will assist our country to reach the millennium development and sustainable development goals to which it is committed.

SACCI is concerned at the possibility that wage and salary increases will be capped by legislation and cautions that such a move could discourage the improvement of productivity and deflect foreign direct investment elsewhere. In the interests of putting "South Africa First" SACCI would only support voluntary implementation of such restraints.

SACCI seeks clarity on funding of the initiative and on ownership of intellectual property rights related to research and development.

SACCI is preparing comments on the paper and is developing a strategy on the role that it can play in bringing the objectives in it to fruition especially within the context. SACCI calls on all stakeholders to adopt the principles espoused in the framework which are closely aligned to those of the SA First Campaign.