The National School of Government and the China-Africa Institute today concluded the 3rd Seminar on Strengthening Economic Governance in South Africa, which started on the12th October 2020.
The programme intended to enhance cultural and academic exchanges between China and South Africa and to achieve priority number one of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s five-year Medium Term Strategic Framework which is, building a capable state to support growth and development.
The seminar focused on China’s Economic Development planning, manufacturing industry, agricultural industry and poverty alleviation, China’s Belt and Road Initiative as well as general international economic cooperation.
The programme was attended by members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, including both the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Committees leaders and MECs amongst others. It also enjoyed multi-political party delegation from the Gauteng Legislature with African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), African Christian Democratic Party(ACDP) and Democratic Alliance(DA) representatives taking part.
Gauteng MEC for Finance and e-government Ms Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko addressed participants focusing on Economic Corporation between China and South Africa. Ms Nkomo-Ralehoko described the long standing historic and political ties between South Africa and China and welcomed the mutual cooperation including trade relations, citing Hisense a Chinese product that is now making itself a household brand in South Africa and also the South African agricultural exports to China such as Beef, wine and rooibos tea.
Ms Adriana Randall, DA member of the Finance, Infrastructure Development Committee in the Gauteng Legislature addressed the participants on economic cooperation between China and South Africa mentioning ICT as the biggest bottleneck in infrastructure development which needed solutions. She encouraged China to continue sharing skills with South Africa in the ICT fraternity.
Prof Shi jie from the Institute of industrial Economics in the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS) shared ingredients of economic success which are, good policy, agricultural reform and good governance. “Learn from China in terms of trade, open up to export, open railway lines to Ethiopia and upgrade the energy/electricity and incorporate with China to develop 5G communication system” he said.
The Principal of the National school of Government (NSG) Mr Busani Ngcaweni gave his closing remarks with more emphasis on building a capable state, ethical and developmental state. He illustrated his favorite concept of “Built to Last vs Built to Adapt”. The Principal also expressed his appreciation of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature multi-party delegation that attended the programme as it displayed a common goal of national development.
Media enquiries:
Dikeledi Mokgokolo
Cell: 082 888 2355
E-mail Dikeledi.Mokgokolo@thensg.gov.za
