Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Business community of South Africa and Norway,
We meet today in Oslo, to continue on our partnership and cooperation that we discussed during the State visit to South Africa, in November 2009 by His Majesty King Harald V and Her Majesty the Queen.
Let me also express my sincere gratitude to his Majesty King Herald V and the government of Norway for hosting us this week in Oslo and having this business forum.
South Africa and Norway have enjoyed strong historical relations, which have translated into a firm political commitment.
We remember fondly the solidarity and unwavering support the Norwegian people provided us during our struggle for liberation.
Our relations today hold significant promise for the growth of economic relations and cooperation in key economic areas for the development of South Africa and the African continent.
In light of these shared historical links between the two countries, we are now fostering closer economic links.
In February this year, in our State of the Nation Address, we declared that the year 2011 will be one of economic transformation and job creation.
We had said the same in our ruling party’s, the African National Congress’s 99th year anniversary statement, where we stated boldly that political freedom without economic emancipation was incomplete.
We were responding to the fact that despite long levels of economic growth, we were still faced with the challenge of unemployment, inequality and poverty.
We introduced a New Growth Path last year. It sets out our vision for the next ten years and our goal to create five million new jobs in the economy.
We identified a number of economic sectors where there are significant opportunities for expansion and economic development.
These include
- Infrastructure development of energy, transport, communications, water and housing; as well as the manufacture of components for this infrastructure programme.
- Agriculture and agro-processing.
- Mining and the local beneficiation of minerals.
- Manufacturing in sectors set out in our Industrial policy Action Plan (IPAP).
- The green economy and
- Tourism, the creative industries and other high-level business services.
In order to realise our goals, we are developing strong partnerships. One of the key partnerships is with Norway.
Norway understands Africa’s developmental needs. Norway has already contributed to the empowerment and uplifting of the living standards of many of our South African people in health projects, provided support for small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs), science technology and arts and culture.
Norway can play a major role in investing in Africa’s energy security, the green economy and climate change.
Such investments would lead to a cleaner environment and sustainable economic development of the African continent.
Norway has the capacity and resources to make a significant contribution to the green economy including renewable energy, parts and equipment for technology.
South Africa would welcome such investment and would like to partner Norwegian companies to work on the continent in the green economy.
Since international trade is a key tool of boosting economic growth and job creation, we are encouraged by the progress in our trade relations with Norway.
South Africa’s trade with Norway has increased significantly over the past five years, doubling from 963 million rand in 2006 to more than three billion rand in 2010.
This growth was driven by a major increase in South African exports to Norway, and South Africa becoming a net exporter to Norway in 2007.
On this State visit, accompanied by a business delegation operating in sectors of Energy, Oil and Gas, Information and Communications technology, Agro Processing and Tourism, we are keen to deepen and expand our economic relationship with Norway.
South African companies would like to partner Norwegian companies in the oil and gas, environment and marine technology, innovation and knowledge based industries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
During His Majesty’s State Visit to South Africa in 2009, our delegations discussed cooperation in trade and industry, higher education, science and technology, energy and development.
During this visit we intend to take these discussions forward and give them effect.
With the challenges and threats we face on climate change, I am of the view that South Africa and Norway must co-operate on these issues as we approach the Conference of Parties (COP 17) in Durban in December.
South Africa would therefore welcome a partnership with the Norwegian delegation to the climate change conference.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Working together, we should leverage the opportunity to steer the South Africa - Norway relations in the direction of mutual prosperity, growth, and development.
I wish the South Africa-Norway business forum successful deliberations.
I thank you.
