SACCI ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, together with partner Absa, held a business dialogue breakfast with the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, on Friday, 8 June 2012.  The purpose of the engagement, part of SACCI’s ongoing program of engagement with Government, is to place issues of concern as well as possible solutions on the table.  In a statement issued today the CEO of SACCI, Mr Neren Rau, said:

QUOTE: “SACCI wants to support the position by the Minister of Finance at the business dialogue that it is crucial to the process of employment creation and addressing inequality that South Africa needs to raise productivity and needs to come to terms our country’s own unique set of challenges. 

These challenges, such as the lack of the required infrastructure, excessive red tape and the shortage of the right skills in the economy, acknowledged by the Honourable Minister, echo the concerns raised by SACCI members.  SACCI members raised a number of issues in a frank discussion with Minister Gordhan, Deputy Minister Nene and a number of National Treasury and SARS officials.  Topics discussed included the cost of doing business, carbon taxes, labour regulations, SARS’s modernisation of customs, retirement reform and corruption.

This policy engagement was a bold step in the process toward a partnership between business and Government.  Currently the low levels of cohesion between government and business do not facilitate a “Team South Africa” approach.  The latter approach is fully supported by SACCI and is key to the growth and development of our economy.”

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Contacts:

Neren Rau  CEO 011 446 3800

Peggy Drodskie COO 011 446 3800