AHi Newsletter Dec 2014: Concern about the country’s economy!
The AHi recently held its annual congress at Umhlanga along the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The discussions over two days were constructive and very positive.
This organisation shares in the concern of many business people about the country’s economic situation:
- The triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality has to be addressed and this is not only government’s responsibility.
- There is a shortage on the trade account of the country’s balance of payments, government spending is too high and the ordinary South African’s debt is shockingly high.
- We cannot afford a further downward adjustment of the country’s credit rating.
- With a growth rate of about 1% the country cannot do all the things necessary to achieve its economic potential.
- Nevertheless, the AHi has the structures, through its Corporate and business members as well as its business chamber network, to unlock this potential.
It is now more or less three years since the National Development Plan came to fruition due to a variety of business leaders and the facilitating role of Mr Trevor Manuel.
After a lot of debating about the pros and cons of the plan over the last three years, there is consensus among the majority of business people that we do not have another choice but to make this plan work. What is clear is that “planning” has been completed and that “implementation” is crucial.
At the recent AHi congress in Umhlanga two ministers were present, namely Mr Pravin Gordhan, responsible for local government, and Ms Lindiwe Zulu, the new minister of Small Business. In these two areas an organisation as the AHi’s relevance can be undoubtedly proved.
To read the full newsletter, download here: https://showme.co.za/vaal/files/2014/12/AHi-Newsletter-November-2014.pdf