President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the National Business Initiative (NBI), describing the organization as “a powerful agent for change” that has helped shape South Africa's democratic journey over the past three decades.
President addresses NBI's 30thth Anniversary cocktail reception in Sandton on Thursday evening.
The event marked 30 years of collaboration between government, business and civil society in driving South Africa's economic and development transformation.
“It is truly a privilege to pay tribute to an organization that has played a significant role in shaping South Africa’s democratic journey.
“For the past 30 years, the National Business Initiative has been a respected voice of responsible business action and a powerful agent for change,” the President said.
He said the NBI was established at a critical time in the country's history when the country was moving from the divisive apartheid government to a new democratic system.
“It was launched in 1995 at a time when the entire society was being called upon to move forward to build a new nation.
The President said, “The formation of the NBI signals that progressive South African business is ready to become active partners in nation-building and help define the contours of a new, inclusive economy and society.”
historical connection
The roots of the NBI go back to the late 1980s, when organized business first became associated with liberation movements in exile.
“These engagements culminated in the formation of the Consultative Business Movement (CBM), the forerunner of the NBI.
“The consultative business movement will play a constructive role in the pre-1994 transition period by helping open channels of dialogue between business and the government-in-waiting and actively supporting peace talks.
President Ramaphosa said, “The Consultative Business Movement provided secretariat and administrative support to the CodeSA processes that began in December 1991 and the subsequent Multi-Party Negotiating Forum.”
In 1995, CBM merged with the Urban Foundation, in what the President described as “rebirth as well as continuity.”
“The organization has already cemented its reputation as a trusted, non-partisan and pragmatic partner in building a new South Africa,” he said.
modern south africa
The President praised the organisation's ability to respond to the complexities and changing dynamics of South African society.
It has taken initiatives in support of transformation, service delivery, skill development, employment generation and safety and security.
“Whether through the formation of anti-crime businesses, education quality improvement partnerships, support to the Youth Employment Service or ground-breaking CEO initiatives, the NBI has been at the forefront of innovation.
“The NBI has a proud history of supporting pathways to employment. The organisation's skills and youth employment programs have become even more important at a time when we urgently need to align the skills being produced by our institutions of higher learning with the skills required for the economy of the future.
“This pioneering work is based on a deep appreciation that building a sustainable, equitable and prosperous economy depends on collective action,” President Ramaphosa said.
a government is working
The President outlined the priorities of the national unity government, which include promoting inclusive growth and job creation, addressing poverty and high cost of living, and building an efficient, ethical and developmental state.
He acknowledged past challenges including state capture, energy crisis and corruption as well as failures in service delivery.
“To overcome these challenges we will need the courage that helped dismantle apartheid. It will require the spirit of collectivity that defined our transition.
“We are doing this at a time when our economy is showing promising signs of recovery. Growth is improving, investment is rising and more jobs are being created. The national debt has stabilized and our sovereign outlook has improved.
“The reform agenda being driven through Operation Vulindlela has gained significant momentum, increasing confidence in our economic trajectory,” he said.
Furthermore, the energy crisis is now “largely behind us”, the President said, with “remarkable improvements” in the performance of rail and port systems, and sound governance has been restored in many state-owned enterprises.
The government has also launched a R1 trillion infrastructure construction programme, the largest in South African history.
“As structural reforms take root, as investor confidence returns and growth green shoots up, there could be no better time to take advantage of this window of opportunity.
“As a bridge-builder during political transitions, we ask the NBI to help us complete the bridge we aimed to build in 1999; the bridge from the promise of our Constitution to meaningful and concrete economic transformation.
President Ramaphosa concluded, “We thank you for your enduring contribution to South Africa's democratic journey.” – sanews.gov.za