Minister for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane;
Mr Stavros Nicolau of the BRICS Business Council;
Dr Candice Moore of the BRICS Academic Forum;
President of the South African Youth Council Mr Thulani Tshefuta;
Distinguished guests,
Members of the media;
Colleagues and friends.
We meet at this National Youth Consultative Forum against the backdrop of the third quarter Labour Force Survey which indicates that unemployment amongst the youth of South Africa fell by 1.6 percentage points to 31.4% in the third quarter of this year. Should this be a reason to celebrate? Perhaps, but a lot more needs to be done in order to make a significant dent on this bleak picture of youth unemployment.
The same can be said for youth unemployment in China, Brazil, India and Russia for that matter. This Forum should make the call to the countries of BRICS to do more as a collective for addressing the challenge of youth unemployment. Youth unemployment is after all a global challenge and not unique to any particular country including South Africa. According to the International Labour Organisation, the global youth unemployment rate is estimated at 12.6 per cent and close to its crisis peak.
As many as 73 million young people worldwide are estimated to be unemployed in 2013. Forget about the atom bomb, forget about a nuclear bomb, the ticking time bomb of youth unemployment will have far more devastating impacts if left unabated. We must launch an international war against youth unemployment. That is our biggest enemy as the youth today.
However, beyond quoting statistics and describing the current state of youth unemployment locally and globally, a platform has been presented to deliberate as youth and youth practitioners within the BRICS countries in order to determine ways in which we can tackle and hopefully overcome some of these challenges.
Following the fifth BRICS session held in Durban, KZN in March 2013 under the theme “BRICS and Africa: A Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation” we received a declaration that spoke to amongst others, the development of a BRICS Youth Policy that would identify areas for youth development and encourage dialogue amongst youth and youth practitioners in the counties of BRICS. As the NYDA, we welcome the development of a BRICS Youth Policy as a giant leap in the right direction for meaningful youth development, for South Africa’s participation in BRICS would have little meaning if it did not take into consideration the plight of young people.
The eThekwini Declaration and Action Plan further recognised the fundamental role played by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the economies of our countries; noting that SME’s are major creators of jobs and wealth. In this regard, we will explore opportunities for cooperation in the field of enterprise development and recognise the need for promoting dialogue amongst the respective Ministries and Agencies particularly with a view to promoting their international exchange and cooperation and fostering innovation, research and development. Support for young entrepreneurs amongst the BRICS nations can and will lead to more jobs for more youth. Not to mention the socio - economic benefits of having higher levels of youth participation in entrepreneurship.
We need to promote the creation of new industries and for that to happen we need to encourage and allow innovation to flourish, especially in promoting enterprise development. We need to encourage through tangible support, the active participation of young people in industries such as manufacturing, agriculture and ICT. Young entrepreneurs amongst the BRICS Nations must also explore new and rapidly growing industries such as Aquaculture and Agro-processing. The Green Economy itself presents young people with a multitude of opportunities if we as the youth are brave and bold enough to seize these opportunities.
More specifically, in taking advantage of the ground work already laid by the BRICS cooperation, we need to explore as the youth how to take advantage of the anticipated BRICS Development Bank with regards to facilitation and improved access to finance for youth-owned businesses. How will the establishment of the Development Bank change or shape the lives of ordinary youth who want to be involved in business as well as to take part in the massive infrastructure development programmes.
To a certain extent we need to influence what its loan or funding policy will be and to ensure that it becomes youth friendly. As the NYDA, we want to propose the development of a clear BRICS Youth Development Strategy. Part of this strategy must be about more investment by BRICS Nations in addressing youth unemployment and the establishment of a BRICS Youth Employment Fund. This Youth Employment Fund should seek to encourage and support programmes aimed at job creation for young people in the countries of BRICS. This fund should be setup by 2014. That is our call as the NYDA.
The role of the BRICS Business Council in creating market linkages and identifying opportunities for youth-owned business should also be explored. What level of support will the Council offer the youth owned enterprises to explore untapped markets but also assist with the creation of an atmosphere for possible export markets of products and services produced by youth in South Africa?
Education and Skills Development have always been a priority of the South African Government in pursuit of addressing youth unemployment and poverty eradication. But the extent of our success in this regard is not at the desired levels. More measurable investment is required in this regard including education exchange programmes and bursary and scholarship funds for youth in the BRICS countries.
I am particularly pleased that as part of this consultative forum we will be able to deliberate on some of the points I have made above including Opportunities for Youth in the BRICS Development Bank and Business Council as well as Education and Skills Development Opportunities provided by BRICS. What's in it for us. Lets decide that for ourselves as the youth at this Summit.
I thank you.
