SA, Africa have role to play in global economic growth

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South Africa and Africa will have a bright future as the next growth frontier in the global economy, if they can position themselves correctly, says Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.

Speaking during the New Age/SABC breakfast briefing in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Friday, the minister highlighted the need for economic integration on the continent.

Promoting regional economic integration was an important element of South Africa’s trade strategy.

He noted that there were around 20 emerging economies that were becoming the main drivers of economic growth and economic dynamism in the world.

“It is estimated that the 20-odd emerging economies will be responsible for something like 61% of global growth over the next few decades and that these countries were already responsible for something like one third of world trade,” he said.

The hope of recovery from the economic crisis still resided in the emerging economies.

“Good news for us is that Africa is very much part of the growth story. There is growing recognition across the world that Africa is the next growth frontier after Asia ahead of some other parts of the emerging world,” Davies added.

This was exemplified by the fact that the IMF estimates that this year the average growth on the African continent will be about 5.5 %.

In addition, six of the 10 fastest growing economies were located on the African continent.

“If one attends international forums and engages investors across the world, we will see that many of them are now taking seriously the African continent as the growth frontier,” he added.

The factors he identified as having driven growth in Africa included a mineral products boom; consumer driven boom in Africa; the fact that the continent had been spared either a systemic financial crisis or a sovereign debt crisis; and infrastructure development that had taken place and which has supported economic growth across the continent.

What was now required was to change this economic spurt into a sustained development effort and that required the continent to industrialise.

South Africa had an important role, an important set of opportunities and important responsibilities in this regard as it was the most industrialised country on the African continent.

The three main areas that have been identified for the focus of industrial development were the need to add value to mineral products, to agricultural products and to develop pharmaceutical industry.

Also important was the need to consolidate and build new mutually beneficial trade and investment relations with dynamic economics and dynamic sectors across the world.

South Africa’s membership of BRICS was a huge advantage in consolidating and building a relationship with the fastest growing economies and most important leading economies in the emerging world, Davies added. 

 


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