Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma encouraged a business delegation on Thursday to market South Africa at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
“There are some achievements that we can speak of as South Africans which will generate confidence among investment partners,” Zuma told the delegation in Johannesburg, according to a copy of his speech.
He said South Africa was a much better place than it was before 1994.
“We have all worked hard as individuals, as groups, and as sectors to ensure success in many areas,” Zuma said.
The past five years had been difficult economically because of the global economic and financial crises.
“But we have emerged better than other economies due to a solid economic foundation and direction.”
Unemployment was a “big headache” for the country, but there were positive signs, he said.
“The economy regained the one million jobs which we had lost as a result of the 2008 global economic crisis. We are pleased that since 1994, five million more people are employed, with total employment at 14 million people,” he said.
He said the National Development Plan outlined most of the objectives and work that should be done to achieve the desired socio-economic development by 2030.
“As you engage the world you will be able to say we know exactly where we want to be by 2030,” Zuma said. - Sapa