President Jacob Zuma departed Davos, Switzerland this morning (29 January 2010) where he has been attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting.
President Zuma arrived in Davos on Monday, 25 January 2010. His attendance coincided with a programme of activities to profile the 2010 FIFA World Cup and promote South Africa as an attractive destination for trade, investment and tourism. This included events with leaders in business and the media, and a visible marketing campaign that made South Africa’s presence felt across Davos.
On the first formal day of the meeting, on Wednesday, 26 January, President Zuma addressed the opening media lunch. It focused on the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with the theme “Before the Kick-Off”.
Speaking to members of the World Economic Forum media contingent, President Zuma said:
“The 2010 FIFA World Cup is the biggest event of its kind to have ever taken place in South Africa and in Africa. It offers an opportunity for the world to see and experience Africa in a different way. It is an opportunity to tackle stereotypes and preconceptions, and explore new frontiers of interaction and cooperation. It is an important milestone in the regeneration of the continent”.
President Zuma participated in a special plenary session entitled “A Conversation on South Africa”, with Newsweek International editor, Fareed Zakaria.
The discussion, which was recorded for broadcast on CNN, looked at the achievements and challenges of South Africa 20 years after the release of Nelson Mandela. President Zuma said growth in the South African economy required a mixture of public and private investment.
“The challenge was to find the right balance between state intervention and market driven economic activity. The two should reinforce each other,” he said.
President Zuma also joined leaders from Mexico, Canada, Korea, Vietnam and Spain in a plenary discussion on “Global Governance Redesigned”. President Zuma said that a major problem with global decision making was that poor countries did not have a say in important decisions that affected their lives. He called for an overhaul of multilateral institutions like the United Nations Security Council, World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
During his stay in Davos, President Zuma held a number of bilateral meetings. These included meetings with Soros Foundation Chairman, George Soros, former United States, President Bill Clinton, United Kingdom Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, Swiss Confederation President, Doris Leuthard, the Duke of York HRH Prince Andrew, Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
President Zuma was accompanied by National Planning Commission Minister Trevor Manuel, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
President Zuma is due to arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this afternoon to attend the 14th ordinary session of the assembly of heads of state and government of the African Union. The theme for the meeting is: “Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for the Future”.
President Zuma is scheduled to return to South Africa on Tuesday, 2 February 2010.
For further enquiries contact:
Vincent Magwenya
Cell: 072 715 0024
Issued by: The Presidency
29 January 2010
Source: The Presidency (http:www.thepresidency.gov.za)
