President Cyril Ramaphosa says Africa must create a conducive environment to attract investment to the continent. He was addressing the African Renaissance Conference underway in Durban.
The event is also attended by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu, MEC for Economic Development Sihle Zikalala, former Premier Sbusiso Ndebele, business people and civil society.
Ramaphosa says no investor wants to invest in a country where there is no stability. He has called on the continent to create an environment that is conducive for investments. “Investors and innovators must be made to feel at home, here in Africa. They must be made to feel that this is a continent that they can come and safely invest their money in. Our task is to create the condition for this new generation to grow and to thrive and to build a continent of hope and progress. This hope and progress one sees emerging in many parts of our continent testify to this regeneration of Africa that was foreseen by Isaka ka Seme.”
The President then shifted his focus to on-going politically related killings in KwaZulu-Natal, saying it undermines the dream and sacrifices of the late statesmen, Nelson Mandela. “If Madiba were alive today, he would say I dream of the realisation of unity of our people here in KZN. He would have spoken vocally and loudly in the killings of other people that we disagree with. Madiba would have said unity should be underpinned by dialogue. Madiba would have said the killings of one another must come to an end. So I say today that the killings that have been taking place in this province must come to an end.”
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development Sihle Zikalala said lack of integrity among some leaders in the continent compounds the problem of underdevelopment and poverty. “The challenge we are facing of elicit flows are affecting Africa and it is leaving Africa in poverty and high level of unemployment. But the key issue also is regional integration for Africa to develop, we do need to ensure regional integration and we must continue to work together.”
Businessman Vivian Reddy called on business people to partner with governments in order to deal with challenges of underdevelopment and poverty ravaging the majority of people in the continent. “For business to be relevant today you also cannot survive on a continent surrounded by poverty. We as business we need to reach out to the underprivileged and that is why as business and government we must work together to say let’s create jobs, lets eradicate poverty and let us give people hope.”
The conference continues on Friday. Click below for more on the story:
