President Jacob Zuma has returned to Pretoria today, 24 January 2015, upbeat and satisfied with the outcome of South Africa’s participation at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

The President led a seven-minister delegation, where they promoted South Africa as a key destination for foreign direct investment and development partnerships.

The President attended successful interactive sessions with both global and South African business executives who expressed interest in various areas such as infrastructure development in particular energy, transport, broadband as well as mining, agro-processing, manufacturing and other sectors. The Ministers accompanying the President also participated as panellists in several sessions, and shared the South African story of progress and readiness to meet the challenges that face the country through implementing the National Development Plan.

“The investors heard our message. They understood us very well that where there are challenges, we have plans to remedy the situation, for example the energy shortage in the country that we are attending to through an infrastructure build and maintenance programme. They heard us when we said we want to see a stronger mining sector and a transformed mining sector hence the need to revitalise mining towns and communities.  We are happy that South African business was able to echo our message in Davos, making it clear to all that we do talk and work together. We are building our country, and will continue to make progress. We made the point strongly that any wise businessperson would really want to have a presence in South Africa," said President Zuma.

On Thursday 22 January, President Zuma held bilateral meetings with Mr John Key, the Prime Minister of New Zealand and also with Mr Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The talks contributed to further enhancing the good relations that exist between South Africa and the two countries.

 

Issued by The Presidency