Date: 04/02/2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: Zuma: Inauguration of the Hillside expansion project
Address by Deputy President Jacob Zuma at the Inauguration of the BHP Billiton Hillside Expansion Project in Richards Bay, Kwazulu-Natal - 04 February 2004
Our host, the Chairman of the BHP Billiton Board, Don Argus,
Minister of Industry and Commerce in the Republic of Mozambique, Carlos Morgado,
Distinguished Guests,
It gives me great pleasure to be part of the inauguration of the third pot-line here at Hillside Smelter, the largest aluminium smelter in the southern hemisphere.
This occasion showcases progress and development, and it gives us encouragement in our goals of creating jobs and providing opportunities for all. It also contributes to furthering our objectives of Black Economic Empowerment and skills development.
We note and welcome the fact that the Hillside expansion project has had a positive impact on the local community, having created employment for 3 000 workers during the peak construction phase, and approximately 120 permanent jobs at Hillside Aluminium.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you would be aware, we are in a celebratory mode this year, as we mark 10 years of our freedom from apartheid and oppression. In this context, it is worth noting that these impressive developments, within the industry, here and in Mozambique, have been made more possible by favourable conditions brought about by freedom and democracy in our country.
We are now a proud and confident nation with our sound economic policies. There is certainly a lot to celebrate in this first decade of freedom and democracy, and something to look forward to in the second decade of our young democracy, given the successes we have scored.
From an economic perspective, the celebration of 10 years of democracy includes both a celebration as well as an acknowledgement of the determination we continue to have, to fully deracialise the economy and ensure the participation of all South Africans in the ownership and management of the country's economy.
This is a year during which we should all take stock of our achievements as a nation, and then plan to address the remaining socio-economic challenges, such as joblessness, poverty, communicable diseases such as HIV and AIDS, TB and others, as well as the historically marginalised communities, especially rural communities.
This means we must roll up our sleeves, and through forming important public-private partnerships, we will achieve the national goal of improving the socio-economic conditions of many in our country.
As said earlier, we must never fail to acknowledge that a lot has been achieved already in all spheres, by many South Africans, whether in government or the private sector. It is in this context that I must congratulate the Hillside Board and all staff for your hard work, as evidenced by the fact that this region supplies more than 5% of the world's primary aluminium production. We wish you further growth; as such development is good for this province and contributes to the country's economic growth.
I would like to use this opportunity to also call upon the South African business community to continue working hand-in-hand with government to improve the lives of millions of South Africans by providing employment and business opportunities to emerging entrepreneurs. In the next decade of freedom, we must join hands once again, to further deepend economic growth, and in that way, improve the quality of life, and spread the message of hope among our people.
But our work should also include commitment to the socio-economic development of our continent as well, as we need to avoid being an island of prosperity in a continent that needs massive economic growth. Through the New Partnership for Africa's Development, NEPAD, Africa has a powerful development blueprint, which needs to be borne in mind by all economic stakeholders operating in this continent.
Among other things, Nepad encourages African ownership and leadership of the economy, active participation in the economy by all sectors of society, partnership between and among African people, building competitiveness of African economies and acceleration of regional and continental integration.
I am therefore especially heartened, that the Republic of Mozambique is represented at this event, by Minister Morgado. The establishment of an aluminium smelter in Maputo indicates that our business community realizes the importance of doing business within the continent.
This is in line with Nepad principles, and makes a valuable contribution to the development of both the region and the African continent. This will once again certainly boost the confidence of international investors, more especially if our own regional economic initiatives are successful.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all the role players in this groundbreaking expansion project.
It is a remarkable achievement and we wish you all the best in all your endeavours and future plans.
I thank you.
The Presidency
February 4, 2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: Zuma: Inauguration of the Hillside expansion project
Address by Deputy President Jacob Zuma at the Inauguration of the BHP Billiton Hillside Expansion Project in Richards Bay, Kwazulu-Natal - 04 February 2004
Our host, the Chairman of the BHP Billiton Board, Don Argus,
Minister of Industry and Commerce in the Republic of Mozambique, Carlos Morgado,
Distinguished Guests,
It gives me great pleasure to be part of the inauguration of the third pot-line here at Hillside Smelter, the largest aluminium smelter in the southern hemisphere.
This occasion showcases progress and development, and it gives us encouragement in our goals of creating jobs and providing opportunities for all. It also contributes to furthering our objectives of Black Economic Empowerment and skills development.
We note and welcome the fact that the Hillside expansion project has had a positive impact on the local community, having created employment for 3 000 workers during the peak construction phase, and approximately 120 permanent jobs at Hillside Aluminium.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you would be aware, we are in a celebratory mode this year, as we mark 10 years of our freedom from apartheid and oppression. In this context, it is worth noting that these impressive developments, within the industry, here and in Mozambique, have been made more possible by favourable conditions brought about by freedom and democracy in our country.
We are now a proud and confident nation with our sound economic policies. There is certainly a lot to celebrate in this first decade of freedom and democracy, and something to look forward to in the second decade of our young democracy, given the successes we have scored.
From an economic perspective, the celebration of 10 years of democracy includes both a celebration as well as an acknowledgement of the determination we continue to have, to fully deracialise the economy and ensure the participation of all South Africans in the ownership and management of the country's economy.
This is a year during which we should all take stock of our achievements as a nation, and then plan to address the remaining socio-economic challenges, such as joblessness, poverty, communicable diseases such as HIV and AIDS, TB and others, as well as the historically marginalised communities, especially rural communities.
This means we must roll up our sleeves, and through forming important public-private partnerships, we will achieve the national goal of improving the socio-economic conditions of many in our country.
As said earlier, we must never fail to acknowledge that a lot has been achieved already in all spheres, by many South Africans, whether in government or the private sector. It is in this context that I must congratulate the Hillside Board and all staff for your hard work, as evidenced by the fact that this region supplies more than 5% of the world's primary aluminium production. We wish you further growth; as such development is good for this province and contributes to the country's economic growth.
I would like to use this opportunity to also call upon the South African business community to continue working hand-in-hand with government to improve the lives of millions of South Africans by providing employment and business opportunities to emerging entrepreneurs. In the next decade of freedom, we must join hands once again, to further deepend economic growth, and in that way, improve the quality of life, and spread the message of hope among our people.
But our work should also include commitment to the socio-economic development of our continent as well, as we need to avoid being an island of prosperity in a continent that needs massive economic growth. Through the New Partnership for Africa's Development, NEPAD, Africa has a powerful development blueprint, which needs to be borne in mind by all economic stakeholders operating in this continent.
Among other things, Nepad encourages African ownership and leadership of the economy, active participation in the economy by all sectors of society, partnership between and among African people, building competitiveness of African economies and acceleration of regional and continental integration.
I am therefore especially heartened, that the Republic of Mozambique is represented at this event, by Minister Morgado. The establishment of an aluminium smelter in Maputo indicates that our business community realizes the importance of doing business within the continent.
This is in line with Nepad principles, and makes a valuable contribution to the development of both the region and the African continent. This will once again certainly boost the confidence of international investors, more especially if our own regional economic initiatives are successful.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all the role players in this groundbreaking expansion project.
It is a remarkable achievement and we wish you all the best in all your endeavours and future plans.
I thank you.
The Presidency
February 4, 2004
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