Date: 11/09/2008

Source: French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Title: ANC: Phosa: Address to a business breakfast hosted by the Nordic-South African Business Association in conjunction with the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (11/09/2008)

1. It is always good to be amongst friends, and especially long-time friends from France and the Nordic countries.

2. You all represent countries that have stood by South Africa, and it's democratization process through thick and thin.

3. We also know that you will be much-valued partners to us now that the transformational process is moving into a critical phase.

4. South Africa's economy is full of opportunities for serious international investors.

5. In addition, some of the major and more entrepreneurial companies here hold major interests in the region as well as on the continent.

6. In that fact lies major opportunities for partnership with South African companies here and elsewhere.

7. In South Africa the watchword has become partnership between white and black businessmen and women.

8. Some of these partnerships have been very successful, and that has made us keenly aware of the many opportunities inherent in partnerships where there is reciprocal value.

9. South Africa and the Southern African region is in the process of realizing the substantial value inherent in strong and vibrant regional institutions that protect the interests of it's business community.

10. In that regard we have a lot to learn from Europe and it's well developed institutions.

11. There is also a very strong case to be made for our organized business institutions to co-operate more closely with a view towards unlocking more opportunities for it's members.

12. The ANC takes it responsibility to create a stable economic environment very seriously.

13. We have no reason to deviate from a successful approach that created opportunities for businesses to flourish here.

14. The robust interaction between government, organized business, organized labour and the international community has given us as the ANC the opportunity to find the right balance in our economic policies.

15. We need a vigorous and strong economy to assist us in our stated goal of fast-tracking our programs of poverty alleviation and social transformation.

16. We need your best practice knowledge from your top companies in the health, housing and education sectors.

17. In addition, we need your companies active in these sectors to assist us in finding local black partners in value enhancing business enterprises.

18. Let us move forward as business partners to strengthen the political ties that have existed between us for decades.

Thank you,