Cape Town – Dr Iqbal Survé, the chairperson of Sekunjalo Group and Independent Media, has been appointed as the chairperson of the South African chapter of the Brics Business Council.
Survé, a billionaire businessman with investments in a diversified portfolio including media, technology and healthcare, on Thursday told Business Report that he was excited and honoured to serve as chairperson of the SA chapter; his mission is to ensure that all South Africans share in the benefits of being part of the fast growing economies of the east and the south.
Survé sees “Trump’s protectionism” and “Brexit” as an opportunity for South Africa to strengthen ties with business in the East, especially China and India, whose economies are expected to be number one and number three in the world by 2030, with a gross domestic product of $35trillion (R455.32trln) and $16trln, respectively.
Dr Daniel Matjila, the chief executive of the Public Investment Corporation, congratulated Survé on Thursday: “This achievement is the result of his hard work and his fearless spirit.” His message ends with: “Iqbal, always keep your aim high and carry on your noble nature, many successes are yet to come your way. South Africa is proud of you”.
Survé is passionate about job creation, education, skills development and technology; he sees his new role as “enabler to ensure that Brics benefits the most marginalised South Africans and Africans, especially in the areas of financial services and sustainable development financing”.
“I will work with some of the best business leaders in the country and in the various Brics business councils. It is also an opportunity to enable our country to achieve the goals of inclusive growth and economic transformation. I will work with leading South African, Brazilian, Indian, Chinese and Russian captains of industry and in the various Brics business councils, a wonderful opportunity to enable our country to achieve the goals of inclusive growth and economic and social transformation,” he said.
Founding member
Survé is a founding member of the Brics Business Council and the Clinton Global Initiative; he serves on a number of multi-lateral institutions and global organisations.
Survé served as the first chairperson of the WEF Global Growth Companies Advisory Board and vice chairperson of the Global Agenda Council for Emerging Multinationals. He is a participant member of the G20 meeting and serves on B20 Task Teams as well as the Unga private sector forum, amongst others.