President Jacob Zuma has congratulated South Africa on positive progress in various global sectors as indicated in the 2015/16 results of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Global Competitiveness Index in which South Africa rose seven places from 56 to 49 of 140 countries.
President Zuma has returned from the United States of America where he attended the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA70) under the theme: “The United Nations at 70 – the road ahead for peace, security and human rights.”
“We are happy to learn that South Africa as a maturing democracy continues to make significant strides towards ensuring that we are a globally competitive destination. Team South Africa has worked very hard in a trying global economic climate. We congratulate all South Africans for the hard work."
The WEF Annual Global Competitiveness Index report indicates that as country we have improved in key sectors such education, health, macro-economic environment, innovation and others crucial areas,” President Zuma said.
The President has further encouraged all sectors of the society including business to work together with government in implementing policies and programmes that were designed to improve the country’s global competitiveness particularly in areas where the country has dropped.
South Africa’s biggest improvements come in the areas of: health and primary education (up 6 places), efficiency (up 6 places), technological readiness (up 16 places), and innovation (up 5 places).
South Africa has also improved in the areas of: macro-economic environment (up 4 places), higher education and training (up 3 places), and business sophistication (up 2 places).
South Africa has dropped in the area of infrastructure (down 8 places), institutions (down 2 places), goods market efficiency (down 6 places), financial market development (down 5 places) and market size (down 4 places).
South Africa’s achievements in the 2015/16 Global Competitiveness Index
| Pillar | Overall 2015/16 | 2014/15 |
| Pillar 1: Institutions | 38 | 36 |
| Pillar 2: Infrastructure | 68 | 60 |
| Pillar 3: Macroeconomic environment | 85 | 89 |
| Pillar 4: Health and primary education | 126 | 132 |
| Pillar 5: Higher education and training | 83 | 86 |
| Pillar 6: Goods market efficiency | 38 | 32 |
| Pillar 7: Labour market efficiency | 107 | 113 |
| Pillar 8: Financial market development | 12 | 7 |
| Pillar 9: Technological readiness | 50 | 66 |
| Pillar 10: Market size | 29 | 25 |
| Pillar 11: Business sophistication | 33 | 31 |
| Pillar 12: Innovation | 38 | 43 |
Enquiries:
Bongani Majola
Cell: 082 339 1993
E-mail: bonganim@presidency.gov.za
Manusha Pillay
Cell: 082 389 3597
