South African History Online

Speech at the opening of Angolan/SA Trade Conference

Luanda, 29 April 1998

Your excellency, President dos Santos;
Honouable Ministers;
Distinguished guests,

I am truly honoured and privileged to be with you here at the opening of the
Angolan/South African Trade and Investment Conference. This event has great
significance for the future of relations between our countries, and indeed for
the development of our region.

Winds of change have been sweeping over Southern Africa, bringing lasting
peace and reconciliation. After years of colonisation and apartheid; oppression
and destabilisation, our peoples can now breathe deeply of the fresh African air
as we seize the opportunity to turn political advance into national
reconstruction and sustainable regional economic revival.

Global trends enhance the urgency of economic matters. The success of nations
today depends upon economic performance in highly competitive world markets. In
an era defined both by the integration of the world economy and te formation of
regional economic grouping, the countries of Southern Africa cannot afford to
lag behind in bidding for international investment and an equitable share of.

Such is the interdependence of our economies that each Southern African
county is compelled to consider its own trade and development needs within the
context of the needs of the region as a whole. That is the objective reality
which led to the foundation of the Southern African Development Community, and
which sustains its growth into an instrument for the mutual benefit of all of
us.

Economically stable and growing markets in neighbouring countries are
essential for the achievement of our domestic priorities. As South Africa is
affected by what happens in other countries, so they in turn are similarly
affected by the success or failure of South Africa's plans for development.

While SADC provides a framework for integrated and balanced development,
thereby strengthening the efforts of each of us to create a climate for
sustained growth, the task of realising our potential cannot be left to
government alone.

Governments - individually and collectively in SADC - are creating an
environment for the flourishing of enterprise. Whether it is through the Trade
Protocol which has opened the way to a single market or in other measures to
promote economic integration, the opportunities are growing.

The scope for private sector participation in infrastructural development has
been dramatically enlarged.

These opportunities create a challenge for business, a challenge to make
business an integral part of the region's development, and in the same measure,
to make development an integral part of business activities in the region.

Joining hands across sectors and across borders is the only way to achieve
our common purpose of a better life for all.

Within South Africa the partnerships between government, the private sector,
non-governmental organisations and organised labour have made a critical
contribution to the building of our new nation, in the delivery of social
services; in the entrenchment of democracy; in the building of our economy and
in the development of our human resources.

The benefits of partnership are nowhere more visible than in the cross-border
development initiatives, whereby infrastructure is put in place, information is
available and red tape is reduced for the thorough exploitation of natural,
technological and human resources.

The Maputo Corridor is under way. The Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative,
a joint initiative of Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa, is to be launched
in a matter of days. South Africa is keen to share skills and resources in the
other development corridors taking shape in the region.

Such partnerships, we are confident, will make an effective contribution to
Angolan reconstruction and therefore to lasting peace. That is why conferences
such as this are so important. They provide the building blocks of such
partnerships between government and government and between government and
business.

South African business is also keen to join hands in partnership with its
Angolan counterparts in trade and investment. The large delegation accompanying
me from the private sector and senior levels of government shows that we do mean
business.

The business of literally rebuilding Angola has already begun with several
South African construction companies involved. We know that there are many more
opportunities in mining, fishing, agriculture, banking, oil and other
industries. The abundance of your natural resources makes Angola an attractive
location for trade and investment.

I wish you all success with your deliberations and may your conference bear
much fruit in the reconstruction of Angola and South Africa.

I thank You.

Issued by: Office of the President