Date: 25/11/2002
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: SA/Dutch Chamber of Commerce
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK ADDRESSING THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN/DUTCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hague, Netherlands, 25 November 2002
The Western Cape is a stable investment destination and nearly a decade since our first democratic elections in 1994, we are proud of the way our democracy has matured - stabilising our economy and making our country ever more attractive to foreign investors. We are quite keenly aware of the euro-scepticism about Southern Africa, due mainly to the unfolding situation in Zimbabwe, but in South Africa there are increasing numbers of leaders from every community determined to join hands to avert repeating the mistakes of Zimbabwe in South Africa. Unlike Zimbabwe where the white and black communities were polarised into opposing camps, there are enough men and women of vision, on both sides of our history, willing to work together to make South Africa work. We are working hard to break down the old prejudices and to continue the good work started by former Presidents Mandela and de Klerk.
There has never been a better time to visit or invest in the Western Cape. Apart from the natural splendour and vast resources, which our province offers, recent political developments have brought new stability and long-term growth prospects to our region. In almost every sector of commerce and industry there are exciting new opportunities, combined with one of the best transport and communications infrastructures in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the most enjoyable and affordable lifestyles in the world.
Our Provincial Government is a political coalition between the New National Party (NNP) and the African National Congress (ANC) - two parties whose history has been one of confrontation. At the end of last year, the national leadership of both parties entered into an historic agreement to form participatory governance at all levels of South African political life - effectively reaching out to bridge the divides of our history. Our parties share a fundamental belief that the only way for our country to succeed is for all South Africans, irrespective of race, religion, or language, to build our common future in partnership. In the Western Cape this agreement has led to the formation of our coalition government of hope. We are determined to show that coloured, black, white and Indian South Africans cannot only tolerate one another, but that we succeed best together. This is the basis of our commitment to building a World Class Province, which Cares for all our people.
Our single biggest challenge in the Western Cape, and indeed across Southern Africa, is to narrow the development gap and give hope to those who remain mired in poverty. As the Government of the Western Cape we are critically aware of how important it is for us to broaden the base of those communities who benefit from economic growth. Foreign direct investment and tourism are critical elements required for our economy to grow. Investors can be assured that Zimbabwe-style land grabs will not happen in South Africa because we have enough men and women of skill from every community who know what must be done to avert a repetition of the mistakes of Zimbabwe in our country.
Our approach to land reform is driven by the principles of sustainability, transparency, and responsibility. It protects private property and at the same time extends land ownership to those who have previously been denied access. Since 1999, the National Department of Land Affairs with the cooperation of farmers, has been able to deliver more than 1,1 million hectares of formerly private land for redistribution, as well as another 1,2 million hectares of state agricultural land.
By 2015, 30% of all agricultural land in South Africa should be in the Western Cape our plan is to settle 7000 new emerging farmers from the coloured and black communities, in addition to the 11 000 existing white commercial farmers, over the next few years. This programme is also being combined with a range of other initiatives to ensure that our new farmers can profitably and successfully utilise their new land to support themselves and their families - these initiatives include farming and management training, mentorship programmes with existing commercial farmers, and skills-transfer schemes in partnership with the private sector. Sustainable, equitable and comprehensive land reform is one of the keys to securing success in Southern Africa.
With the focus of our Provincial Government fixed firmly on the upliftment and empowerment of all the communities of our province, we have also identified a number of key growth sectors, which we believe have the potential to generate widespread and sustainable economic growth and job creation. These critical growth sectors also offer a range of attractive investment and development opportunities, specifically in the areas of agriculture, tourism, education, conferencing, and our rapidly expanding film and advertising industry.
Six of South Africa's top ten trading partners are in Europe, and Europe remains our main source of investment, tourism, and development co-operation. Our trade links with the European Union and its member states continue to grow. Trade with the Netherlands has increased more than 45% since the SA/EU Trade and Development Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) was ratified, and the Netherlands is the Western Cape's third largest export market (after the UK and the USA) - with more than R1, 66 billion worth of exports last year alone. From fruits and wine to ships, boats, and vehicles, the trade between the Western Cape and our Dutch partners continues to grow from strength to strength. Also in the tourism sector, tourism from the Netherlands to South Africa has increased far above the average over the last year.
With the increased political stability in the Western Cape, and the ongoing programmes to ensure greater economic benefits are realised by our communities most in need, there has never been a better time to consider investing in our World Class Province.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Office of the Premier, Western Cape
25 November 2002
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: SA/Dutch Chamber of Commerce
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK ADDRESSING THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN/DUTCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hague, Netherlands, 25 November 2002
The Western Cape is a stable investment destination and nearly a decade since our first democratic elections in 1994, we are proud of the way our democracy has matured - stabilising our economy and making our country ever more attractive to foreign investors. We are quite keenly aware of the euro-scepticism about Southern Africa, due mainly to the unfolding situation in Zimbabwe, but in South Africa there are increasing numbers of leaders from every community determined to join hands to avert repeating the mistakes of Zimbabwe in South Africa. Unlike Zimbabwe where the white and black communities were polarised into opposing camps, there are enough men and women of vision, on both sides of our history, willing to work together to make South Africa work. We are working hard to break down the old prejudices and to continue the good work started by former Presidents Mandela and de Klerk.
There has never been a better time to visit or invest in the Western Cape. Apart from the natural splendour and vast resources, which our province offers, recent political developments have brought new stability and long-term growth prospects to our region. In almost every sector of commerce and industry there are exciting new opportunities, combined with one of the best transport and communications infrastructures in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the most enjoyable and affordable lifestyles in the world.
Our Provincial Government is a political coalition between the New National Party (NNP) and the African National Congress (ANC) - two parties whose history has been one of confrontation. At the end of last year, the national leadership of both parties entered into an historic agreement to form participatory governance at all levels of South African political life - effectively reaching out to bridge the divides of our history. Our parties share a fundamental belief that the only way for our country to succeed is for all South Africans, irrespective of race, religion, or language, to build our common future in partnership. In the Western Cape this agreement has led to the formation of our coalition government of hope. We are determined to show that coloured, black, white and Indian South Africans cannot only tolerate one another, but that we succeed best together. This is the basis of our commitment to building a World Class Province, which Cares for all our people.
Our single biggest challenge in the Western Cape, and indeed across Southern Africa, is to narrow the development gap and give hope to those who remain mired in poverty. As the Government of the Western Cape we are critically aware of how important it is for us to broaden the base of those communities who benefit from economic growth. Foreign direct investment and tourism are critical elements required for our economy to grow. Investors can be assured that Zimbabwe-style land grabs will not happen in South Africa because we have enough men and women of skill from every community who know what must be done to avert a repetition of the mistakes of Zimbabwe in our country.
Our approach to land reform is driven by the principles of sustainability, transparency, and responsibility. It protects private property and at the same time extends land ownership to those who have previously been denied access. Since 1999, the National Department of Land Affairs with the cooperation of farmers, has been able to deliver more than 1,1 million hectares of formerly private land for redistribution, as well as another 1,2 million hectares of state agricultural land.
By 2015, 30% of all agricultural land in South Africa should be in the Western Cape our plan is to settle 7000 new emerging farmers from the coloured and black communities, in addition to the 11 000 existing white commercial farmers, over the next few years. This programme is also being combined with a range of other initiatives to ensure that our new farmers can profitably and successfully utilise their new land to support themselves and their families - these initiatives include farming and management training, mentorship programmes with existing commercial farmers, and skills-transfer schemes in partnership with the private sector. Sustainable, equitable and comprehensive land reform is one of the keys to securing success in Southern Africa.
With the focus of our Provincial Government fixed firmly on the upliftment and empowerment of all the communities of our province, we have also identified a number of key growth sectors, which we believe have the potential to generate widespread and sustainable economic growth and job creation. These critical growth sectors also offer a range of attractive investment and development opportunities, specifically in the areas of agriculture, tourism, education, conferencing, and our rapidly expanding film and advertising industry.
Six of South Africa's top ten trading partners are in Europe, and Europe remains our main source of investment, tourism, and development co-operation. Our trade links with the European Union and its member states continue to grow. Trade with the Netherlands has increased more than 45% since the SA/EU Trade and Development Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) was ratified, and the Netherlands is the Western Cape's third largest export market (after the UK and the USA) - with more than R1, 66 billion worth of exports last year alone. From fruits and wine to ships, boats, and vehicles, the trade between the Western Cape and our Dutch partners continues to grow from strength to strength. Also in the tourism sector, tourism from the Netherlands to South Africa has increased far above the average over the last year.
With the increased political stability in the Western Cape, and the ongoing programmes to ensure greater economic benefits are realised by our communities most in need, there has never been a better time to consider investing in our World Class Province.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Office of the Premier, Western Cape
25 November 2002
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