South African President, Jacob Zuma, is expected to use the the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos to call on the world’s top economies and businesses to invest in South Africa’s and Africa’s infrastructural projects for the long term economic growth of the continent.
The WEF annual meeting opened last night (22 January 2013) with 2 500 participants from more than 100 countries and 1 400 organisations. Among them are more than 1 600 business leaders and more than 45 heads of state or government, including President Zuma.
According to the Presidency, Zuma will invite international business to invest in government’s multi-billion rand infrastructure programme, which will change the country’s social and economic landscape on completion. The African continent is currently a leading investment destination for good returns and sustainable socio-economic growth.
“As the leading economy in Africa, South Africa remains the strategic platform to access one of the world’s fastest growing regions. South Africa supports growth in Africa through regional integration and direct investment,” the Presidency noted.
In more than 250 sessions and workshops during the six-day meeting, participants will discuss questions, including how the global economy can get back to robust growth, plus how business models can adapt to generational and structural changes.
Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairperson of the WEF, explained in his welcoming address what he was expecting an outcome from this year’s meeting. “Going back being more dynamic, more optimistic, more resilient, having passion and understanding better what’s going on — that’s my wish for you,” he told delegates.
The theme of this year’s WEF is ‘Resilient Dynamism’ and Schwab stated that this was the combined attribute that will be expected from leaders in 2013. He said if external shocks were now the norm in a hyper-connected and inter-dependent world, then leaders would need to be more resilient. Future growth in the new context of a prolonged global economic malaise required dynamism.
“Either attribute, resilience or dynamism, alone is insufficient, as leadership in 2013 will require both,” he said.
News courtesy of SAnews.gov.za -Xinhua
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