Bua Briefs 7 of 2010

3 June 2010
 

2010 FIFA World Cup™

South Africans have opened up their hearts and homes to the fans and teams who have started to arrive in the country for what will certainly be a memorable experience.
 

  • The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) – through which government coordinates all aspects of its support for the tournament – is operational.
  • FIFA, Interpol and the Southern African Development Community have approved South Africa’s security plan as comprehensive enough to address potential terror threats, hooliganism and crime.
  • The integrated transport system linking stadiums, host cities, fan parks and other areas of interest have been tested during the recent Super14 rugby tournament and Bafana Bafana’s international friendly match against Colombia.

South Africa will undoubtedly be a better place as a result of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
 

  • Hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ has brought unprecedented attention and exposure to South Africa.
  • South Africans are being drawn closer together through campaigns such as Football Fridays and Fly the Flag for Football that allow people to demonstrate their passion for football and their country.
  • Government’s preparations for the World Cup over the last six years demonstrate greater efficiency, focus and integration in how we execute projects. This approach will enhance Government’s capacity for good.

South Africa’s investment in infrastructure will continue to benefit all South Africans in the long term
 

  • The infrastructure projects completed for the World Cup have enhanced the country’s long-term attractiveness for tourism, trade and investment.
  • The World Cup legacy will ensure that by 2020 more than 85% of any city’s population will live within a kilometre or closer to an integrated rapid public transport network feeder or corridor.
  • Our investment to secure the tournament, such as additional police officers and state-of-the-art technology will continue to assist the police in their crime-fighting initiatives long after the World Cup is over.
  • The six new stadiums that have been built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will provide South Africa with a number of world-class sporting facilities, which are sure to enable South Africa to attract more sporting events in the future

top

State visit to India (2 to 5 June 2010)

President Jacob Zuma’s state visit to India from 2 to 5 June is his first official trip to Asia. The objective of the visit is to deepen the strategic partnership by strengthening and broadening economic and commercial interaction between the two countries and expanding South-South interaction to strengthen the voice of the developing world.
 

  • India is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia while South Africa is the strongest economy on the African continent.
    • India has emerged as South Africa’s foremost strategic partner in Asia. India’s importance for the South African economy is increasing due to the growing investment by Indian firms in the local economy.
    • Despite the fact that trade volumes have grown between the two countries, the current statistics do not fully reflect the potential that still exists for the commercial relationship in meeting both countries’ developmental challenges.
    • Trade between the two countries increased more than five-foldbetween 2003 (R6,5 billion) and 2009 with total bilateral trade volumes in 2009 amounting to R33,5 billion.
    • Discussions between government and trade delegations will focus on the importance of trade, industrialisation, agriculture, transport, information and communications technology and international affairs.

South Africa and India share common views on several global interests.
 

  • These include the consolidation of the African agenda, the achievement of the millennium development goals as well as the comprehensive reform of the United Nations and international financial institutions.
  • South Africa and India are committed to multilateralism and the increased representation of developing countries in multilateral institutions that would enable the profiling of the developmental agenda of the South.
  • South Africa and India cooperate in various multilateral forums, such as the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum, the G20, the Non-Aligned Movement and the BASIC group on climate change (consisting of Brazil, South Africa, India, and China).
  • South Africa and India also share positions on international threats to security, including terrorism, human trafficking, drugs and small arms and control of infectious diseases such as HIV and AIDS.

South Africa's political, economic, trade and social relations with India have flourished in the past few years.
 

  • Since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1993, there have been regular exchanges of high-level visits and cooperation in various areas between the two countries.
  • Relations are governed by the Red Fort Declaration (1996), New Delhi Declaration (2003) and Tshwane Declaration (2006).
  • India demonstrated its commitment to consolidating relations with Africa by hosting the inaugural Africa – India Partnership in April 2008, which aimed at strengthening partnerships in respect of various areas such the economy, politics, science, technology, research and development, social development, tourism, infrastructure, energy, environment as well as media and communications.
  • President Zuma’s visit to India comes amid the commemoration of the arrival of Indians in South Africa 150 years ago.

top

Global Forum

26 – 28 June 2010, Cape Town International Convention Centre

The Fortune, Time and CNN Global Forum will be hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from 26 to 28 June in Cape Town. This forum brings together global leaders to focus on business, economic and social opportunities in the current global environment. Since 1995, the Global Forum has convened in a location of significant international interest and is recognised as one of the most important gatherings of leaders in the world.

South Africa has been chosen as the strategic host of the Global Forum.
 

  • This is the first time that Time 100 members (an annual list of the world’s most influential people from different professions) and Fortune 500 members (list of the most influential businesspeople in the United States of America) have been invited to voice their thoughts together, providing richer insight on the dynamic frontiers of international commerce.
  • The programme’s theme, New Global Opportunity, will focus on business, economic and social opportunities in the developing world, where the African continent with more than 900 million potential consumers offers the promise of significant growth opportunities and the emergence of innovative ideas.
  • The forum will include the dti’s annual Africa Dialogue, which is designed to connect Africa to the world through sustainable partnerships.
  • The Global Forum is yet another example of South Africa’s growing expertise in hosting major international events, including the World Economic Forum’s regional conferences, major sporting events and political conferences such as the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the World Conference against Racism.

The forum will be the business and economic centrepiece of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ period.
 

  • The world’s attention will be on South Africa during the World Cup. The Global Forum provides similar exposure to South Africa’s long-term opportunities for economic growth and prosperity.
  • Government will actively engage with international business decision-makers who will be attending the forum to expose them to the numerous investment opportunities the country and the region offer.
  • It will also provide an opportunity for South African, regional and international business leaders to forge relationships and form business linkages in various sectors.
  • The hosting of the Global Forum in conjunction with the annual Africa Dialogue will contribute in establishing the Africa Dialogue Conference as the premier event profiling African economic issues.
  • South Africa’s increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows from US$5,7  billion in 2007 to US$9 billion in 2008, is the highest and most diversified FDI in Africa, including the energy, manufacturing, mining and banking sectors (largest share). This reflects the confidence shown towards the investment potential of both South Africa and Africa.
  • The transfer of skills and technology must also accompany investment in the country and continent to fast-track sustainable development and growth.

top

Highlights

World Cup
 

  • Sufficient power supply to meet the tournament’s demand
    Eskom has expressed its confidence to have sufficient power to avoid load shedding during the World Cup.
  • Special courts set up
    Fifty-six courts dedicated to criminal matters relating to the World Cup are being established close to stadiums and ports of entry in host cities, contributing towards the efficient administration of justice.
  • Ticket holders score with free train rides on match day
    Metrorail announced that it would provide free train rides for 2010 FIFA World Cup™ match ticket holders to watch all 64 matches. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa will run special commuter services through its Metrorail and Shosholoza Meyl intercity services during the tournament.
  • Presentation of trophy to the Deputy President
    The last 2010 Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting takes place on Friday, 4 June 2010. On this day, FIFA President, Mr Sepp Blatter, will present the World Cup Trophy to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Technology
 

  • Office of Astronomy Development
    South Africa has been selected by the International Astronomical Union to host the prestigious Office for Astronomy Development in Cape Town. It was described as a significant achievement not only for South Africa, but for all of Africa, since this office will be the central point for using astronomy to foster education and capacity-building globally over the next decade.

Economy
 

  • Cheaper banking services
    The Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan, announced that key to the process of improving competitiveness was that clients would be able to switch easily between banks and that people would be given enough information to compare charges and services provided by each bank, to allow customers to make a better choice.

top