2 June 2005

South Africa's drive for foreign direct investment, trade and tourism takes a step forward this month when a team of the country's top business leaders, under the aegis of the International Marketing Council of SA (IMC), visits Europe on a high-level business mission.

Led by IMC Chair Wendy Luhabe, the delegation aims to place South Africa at the top of the agenda of the German and British business communities.

IMC Chair Wendy Luhabe

"While the Institute for International Finance shows that foreign capital flows at US$311-billion are at their highest levels since 1997/98, the Reserve Bank reports that South Africa experienced a net outflow of US$1-billion last year," Luhabe said.

"We urgently need to turn this around.

"Our mission is to demonstrate opportunity and success", Luhabe said. "We will showcase a country that is alive with possibility and a business environment that will provide investors in South Africa with rich rewards."

The 21-member delegation includes 2010 World Cup Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan, Business Unity SA CEO Bheki Sibiya, Airports Company SA CEO Monhla Hlahla, and JSE Securities Exchange CEO Russell Loubser.

The leader of some of SA's biggest companies and multinationals will also be on board, among them Old Mutual Plc CEO Jim Sutcliffe, Siemens SA's Klaus Döring, African Harvest MD Ethan Dube, Metallon chairman Mzi Khumalo, and Goldman Sachs International's Lesley Maasdorp.

The delegation will hold investment conferences in Frankfurt, Munich and London during its week-long visit, starting on 11 June.

The visit follows the highly successful Brand South Africa mission to the United States in 2004.

"We want to present the rich potential of doing business in South Africa," IMC CEO Yvonne Johnston said. "Investing in South Africa allows companies to reach a customer base of more than 170 million people in our immediate region and another 550 million people on the continent of Africa.

IMC CEO Yvonne Johnston

"Germany and the United Kingdom have been selected because they are South Africa's biggest trading partners", Johnston said. "Our objective is to consolidate that position and explore the opportunities for further growth in two of the world's biggest economies."

According to Johnston, there is a growing interest in South Africa from investors abroad. "Investors see enormous potential - a stable democracy with sophisticated infrastructure and sound macro-economic policies. The Barclays-Absa deal has emphasised our country's growing stature in the global financial world.

"We will confront head-on the questions that are asked about the challenges facing South Africa," Johnston added. "We want to tell people about the opportunities created by black economic empowerment ... We will tell them the good news about South Africa and showcase the talents of some of our most respected business leaders."

Business Unity CEO Bheki Sibiya said he would inform European audiences of the huge potential in doing business with the South African SMME sector. "There are an estimated three million small businesses operating in South Africa, and they play a vital role in wealth and job creation," Sibiya said.

2010 World Cup Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan said there would be considerable global interest in South Africa over the next five years. "This visit will introduce the European business community to the numerous opportunities that are opening up for new ventures and investments," Jordaan said.

The full IMC delegation:

• Klaus Döring (Siemens South Africa)
• Ethan Dube (MD, African Harvest)
• Hischam El-Agamy (director, IMD International)
• Jennifer Feinberg (Industrial Development Corporation)
• Monhla Hlahla (CEO, Airports Company SA)
• Yvonne Johnston (CEO, IMC)
• Danny Jordaan (CEO, 2010 World Cup Organising Committee)
• Mzi Khumalo (chairman, Metallon)
• Chris Landsberg (director, Centre for Policy Studies)
• Russell Loubser (CEO, JSE Securities Exchange)
• Wendy Luhabe (chair, IMC)
• Lesley Maasdorp (Goldman Sachs International)
• Mpho Makwana (regional executive, Standard Bank)
• Thabo Masebe (chief director, Government Communications)
• Mfanu Mfayela (CEO, SA Contact Centre Community)
• Raisibi Morathi (COO, Industrial Development Corporation)
• Seth Phalatse (board member, Denel)
• Bheki Sibiya (CEO, Business Unity SA)
• Monica Singer (CEO, Strate)
• Michael Spicer (executive director, SA Foundation)
• Jim Sutcliffe (CEO, Old Mutual Plc)

	'True growth requires ample sunshine, fertile ground and solid support' - from a full-page advert placed in The Economist and Fortune magazines in 2004 (More on the IMC's international print campaign)

	Ten London taxis, with more than a splash of South African colour and wit, took to the streets of London in 2004 for a 12-month zig-zag promotion of SA as one of the world's most exciting destinations for tourism, trade and investment (More on the IMC's London taxi campaign)

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	International Marketing Council  Dept of Trade & Industry  Industrial Development Corporation  Government Communications  Airports Company SA  Business Unity South Africa  South Africa Foundation  Centre for Policy Studies  JSE Securities Exchange SA

'Today I woke up in a place that said: Be what you want to be.' Nelson Mandela, Zanele Situ, 'Baby Jake' Matlala and Natalie du Toit are among those who woke up to a country Alive with Possibility. View the IMC's Brand South Africa TV advert. Wake up to a dream.

2010 World Cup SA The world's biggest sporting event after the Olympic Games is coming to South Africa.