The South African Chamber of Commerce (SACC) and Global Trade Review (GTR) hosted a high-level roundtable event with His Excellency Sihle Zikalala, Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure for the Government of the Republic of South Africa on 7 November 2023.
The event was hosted by Chamber member Streathers Solicitors and was attended by SACC members, UK industry, UK government, UK professional service firms, and the Minister’s team. Ed Harkins (SACC Director and Trade Ambassador) chaired the event on behalf of the Chamber.
\The Minister’s team briefed the attendees on South Africa’s infrastructure plans and there was a discussion as to how UK Plc could help to finance and deliver the infrastructure that South Africa needs. A team from Infrastructure South Africa was part of the delegation.
Their aim was to:
■ Give a progress update on the implementation of its gazetted Strategic Integrated Projects
■ Showcase progress on the Infrastructure Fund Project Pipeline as operationalised in 2020
■ Signal regulatory and policy stability and agility
■ Pivot investment ready projects in the areas of energy, water, port and rail and digital infrastructure
■ Strengthen existing partnerships for long term collaboration on infrastructure delivery
■ Ready themselves and stakeholders for the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa
The roundtable was followed by an informal networking session for the attendees. The Minister and his team were delighted with the event. The Minister delivered the keynote address at GTR’s London Africa the following day.
“As South Africa, we are a story of economic growth, hope and resilience to investors and social partners. We are open for business and we guarantee your return on investments in a country that is continuously eliminating red tape, has economic stability, improving the ease of doing business and where the
rule of law is jealously guarded by our democratic institutions and our courts.”
said Zikalala in his keynote address.
By Ed Harkins, Director and Ambassador for Trade, SACC UK
Added sources https://www.gov.za/speeches ; https://www.facebook.com/InfrastructureSA
