Three South African Ministers are representing the country at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa Summit which begins in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, Wednesday, PANA reported.
They are Rob Davies (Trade and Industry), Pravin Gordhan (Finance), and Lechesa Tsenoli (Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs).
Gordhan said the summit takes place against the backdrop of a much improved outlook for economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.
“In its most recent regional economic outlook, the International Monetary Fund said economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa will pick up from 4.9 per cent in 2013 to 5.5 per cent this year, an acceleration which the IMF ascribed to improved prospects in a large number of countries in the region,” he said.
African political and business leaders from across the continent will discuss innovative structural reforms and investments that can help sustain the continent’s growth, create jobs and prosperity for all.
WEF on Africa, which is hosted on an alternating basis by South Africa and other fellow African nations, will focus on forging inclusive growth and job creation, both topics of considerable interest and much relevance for Africa’s socio-economic development.
Speaking ahead of the forum, President Jacob Zuma said Africa had remained at the centre of South Africa’s foreign policy.
“We have also prioritised the promotion of regional economic integration, infrastructure development, intra-African trade and sustainable development in the continent. The World Economic Forum is an important platform to take this agenda forward, especially as it enables Africa to interact with the world to promote growth and development,” President Zuma said.
