Johnathan Paoli
THE Southern Africa Europe CEO Dialogue kicked off on Thursday at the Marriott Hotel in Melrose, bringing together over 200 European and African CEOs and influential public and private sector leaders to strengthen strategic relationships as well as to discuss challenges and to find solutions to advancing African economic growth.
Confirmed speakers for this year’s invitation only event included Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, Thebe chairman Nhlanhla Nene, Angola’s secretary of state for finance, Ottoniel dos Santos, the CEO of South African Breweries, Richard Rivett-Carnac, as well as the director of Women in Capital Growth, Nomatemba Tambo, among others.
The CEO of the European House Ambrosetti, Pietro Mininni said this year marks the 10the anniversary of the the summit – a powerful forum that has stimulated billions of rands in business and investment in order to provide concrete approaches that have a direct impact for business, regarding the EU’s growing attention and commitment towards Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mininni said Italy has held a leading role in the development of cooperation not only with South Africa, but also with neighbouring countries such as Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Summit addresses issues of primary importance for Europe and Southern Africa, taking into account the geopolitical, economic, and social trends that will influence the future of the two continents with sectors under analysis including manufacturing, automotive, transport and physical and digital infrastructure, energy, mining, digital payments, pharmaceuticals, and agro-industry, Mininni said.
Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Tasneem Motara, in her opening address, welcomed and thanked the representatives and praised the role the province played in further development of both African as well as European economic and industrial growth.
“As SA’s gateway to the rest of Africa, Gauteng is ready to create an environment that encourages business and development for all people involved,” Motara said.
CEO and Managing Partner of Ambrosetti Velerio De Molli said the summit was just one little piece in a much longer operation of development.
De Molli said that some of the outcomes the summit would be to finalise included funding of an automotive plant, investment exploration in the e-waste field, funding of a renewable energy plant, and township cooperation projects for skills development.
Former Italian prime minister, Enrico Letta, praised the relationships between Europe and southern Africa as the ushering in of a stable and friendly platform that encouraged mutual and sustainable development for both parties.
“We are today in a fantastic moment in the future between SA and Europe, because of the world uncertainties, we can create a new world of stability, constructive to both sides, and we strongly believe that trade is the only antidote to wars,” Letta said.
Oliver Tambo Foundation trustee, Nomatemba Tambo, highlighted the important role of youth and women in economic growth and said over 60% of the population are women and young people, and that their contribution could not be understated.
“Our country was built by women, and it was women who raised our youth,” Tambo said.
Former Finance minister Trevor Manuel highlighted several factors that were obstacles to growth of both the economy and industries, including the fact that for many African countries’s debts have to be serviced in foreign currencies.
In addition, Manuel highlighted the weakness of pan-African institutions in relation to a continental development of a common purpose as well as inadequate policy responses to tax collection and the impact of non-constitutional changes of power in recent years.
The Southern Africa Europe CEO Dialogue was founded and organised by leading global think tank, The European House – Ambrosetti (TEHA), in collaboration with the Gauteng Province, the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), and a selection of international public and private stakeholders, including CLN-MA, Danieli, DHL, Aspen, Musina-Makhado SEZ, Italian Trade Agency, Brand SA and Italtile.
The Dialogue ends tomorrow with two panel discussions on “Doing Business in the Gauteng,” and “Young Business Leaders: Fostering South Africa’s long term growth”.
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