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SONA 2013: Business Chamber calls for action

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Kevin Hustler, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has compiled this advice to Msholozi ahead of his State of the Nation Address on Valentines Day:

The 2013 State of the Nation Address will be judged in the context of the National Development Plan and the steps taken to realise the dreams of Vision 2030.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber echoes the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s call for urgent and effective engagement between government and business to improve investor confidence in South Africa 2013. The country is in need of strong and decisive leadership, followed by swift and effective action to reverse the current downward spiral in investor confidence and restore South Africa’s positive image.

As an organisation serving business in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, we want to see a strong focus on economic growth throughout the country, and long-term strategies for economic stability, competitiveness and the sustainability of business. To this end, the Chamber advocates a focus on infrastructure development in the name of economic development. We want no lip service, but strong evidence of planning and implementation in 2013 and beyond, with a specific plan of action outlined in tomorrow’s State of the Nation Address.

The Business Chamber would like to see the president highlight issues of high Eastern Cape impact, namely Project Mthombo, the oil refinery at Coega, as a key strategic and catalytic project for the socio-economic development opportunities it offers the Eastern Cape.

The Business Chamber calls for transparency in dealing with corruption at all levels of government and business, and advocates an ethical and sustainable approach.

We would hope to see an underlying recognition of the significant contribution of business to the sustainability of the country, and clear efforts to develop and sustain the engines of our economy.

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