International relations

Message to Davos: 'Look South'

26 January 2010

Positioning South Africa as a competitive investment destination and dominant developing economy underlies the formation of a public-private partnership, spearheaded by the International Marketing Council of SA, at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting taking place in Davos, Switzerland this week.

Business and government have partnered to form "Team South Africa" at Davos, and the amalgamation aims to position South Africa as "the next big thing", while taking advantage of the world's focus on the country as host of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

The partnership also aims to drive dialogue on the African agenda, and will be encouraging Davos delegates to "look South for fresh solutions to a better world", by experiencing the magnitude of the country's trade and investment offerings.

The emergence of the BASIC group, or G-5, puts South Africa at the cutting edge of a new global paradigm that could help reach consensus on key issues such as trade, poverty reduction, the global financial system and the growing tensions around limited resources in a finite world, and ease fundamental changes in the global order with minimum disruption.

"This is a conversation we want to engender and seed at the World Economic Forum," said International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC) chairperson Anitha Soni. "With the rise of China, India, and Brazil among others as economic powerhouses, the global order is fast becoming more democratic.

"South Africa may not rank with these countries in GDP terms but, based on its track record, experience and position within Africa, its voice is an important and influential one," Soni said.

Partnership

"Business and government coming together to optimise the country's investment in this global event is a demonstration of the IMC board's inclusionary approach," Soni added.

Represented in the partnership is the Presidency, the IMC, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Business Leadership South Africa, Discovery, Old Mutual, Absa, Telkom, Nedbank, MTN, Sasol, Investec, Transnet and First Rand.

The South African delegation also includes members of the newly appointed IMC board.

"Collaboration is undoubtedly a critical ingredient of our success at this year's World Economic Forum," said Business Unity South Africa chief executive Jerry Vilikazi. "South Africa can influence the conversation among the twenty percent of influencers with eighty percent of impact only when working together at WEF, especially given the importance of the constituency."

Fresh solutions for a better world

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said that, in order to "engender a significant impact beyond discussions seeded at WEF itself, participants in the forum are confronted with the question as to which solutions will alter the global economy and bring a positive impact to all.

"Addressing new ways of doing things is expected to have a direct bearing on how countries will be able to improve their global competitiveness," Davies said. "It is therefore important to ensure that any global solutions are developed by all stakeholders with the inclusion of a strong African representation.

"This is unashamedly the South African agenda at Davos."

Davies added that the so-called "fresh solutions for a better world" are more often than not simple concepts with a tangible impact, and require nothing less than thinking defined by seeing solutions and not barriers.

"South Africa is playing an increasingly significant leadership role in global decision-making, having recently contributed to easing consensus on pressing global sustainability issues during the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit."

Team SA to drive growth for all at WEF

Business Leadership South Africa CEO Michael Spicer said that, as an active participant in the WEF agenda, South Africa "is aware that in a changing, divided and uncertain world, we begin to matter more because we are a proven connector; a bridge not just to Africa, the last great investment frontier, but between old and emerging powers.

"A successful delegation will help create the springboard for South Africa's growth, simultaneously improving the country's overall reputation at the highest levels of global decision-making."

According to Spicer, the partnership is the beginning of a long-term public-private collaboration that will deliver results-led dialogue between business and government.

"South Africa's tenacious yet diplomatic experience is placing the country in an advantageous position to take on a leadership role through which it offers meaningful, fresh solutions to challenges facing the world today," Spicer said

"It is the aim of this partnership to increase our global competitiveness rating by contributing to the setting of the global agenda, which is, in essence, firmly aligned to the goals of the IMC.

"Both business and government is well poised to exploit this focus towards profiling the sound economic fundamentals of a country, and one that is ready to play a vital role in the economic growth and development of the region."

Source: International Marketing Council of South Africa