Issued by: Office of the Speaker
PRESS STATEMENT
Forty one members of Parliament were today presented with certificates for completing a Training Programme in Economics and Public Finance. Dr Qwene Ginwala presented certificates to 34 members of the National Assembly and Senator Bulelani Ngcuka, representing Mr Kobie Coetsee, to 7 members of the Senate.
The courses were aimed at improving the understanding of complex economic issues, and sought to tackle issues of legislative importance relating to economic policy. Th programme was initiated by Mr Max Sisulu, Chairperson of the RDP Portfolio Committee and was coordinated by the National Institute for Economic Policy (NIEP).
It is hoped that th programme will continue and that resources will be found to expand its scope. Other issues to be covered in future include the budget, tax reform, policies of the Reserve Bank, labour market issues, the economics of health, education and housing, restructuring of state assets and the liberalisation of exchange controls.