South Africa October 2006 |
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| SA Urged to Attract African Skills for 2010, (BuaNews, 2006-10-11):-Namibian Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Bernhard Esau, says South Africa should consider approaching other African countries to acquire skills needed to prepare for a successful 2010 Soccer World Cup. "How do we make the rest of Africa embrace the 2010 Soccer World Cup as an African event, not a South African event? Skills available in the continent must be brought to help in the preparation of this African event," Mr Esau said at the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) on Tuesday, discussing opportunities and challenges ahead of the tournament. Mr Esau said they hoped the host country would also consider inviting companies from other African countries to co-operate with their South African counterparts in sectors, including construction. South Africa is expected to spend about R5 billion in renovations and building stadiums, which along with other multi-million rand investments in other sectors, Mr Esau said could be beneficial to African firms. He said while opportunities and the degree of benefit might be different for individual countries, there were many possible ways the event could benefit almost all. He said countries should plan activities to showcase different products that they could offer to the international community. "We must look at permanent and long-term benefits that the continent will have. Millions of people expected in the continent in 2010 will be exposed to the new image of Africa, not of war, but a glimpse of development, peace, stability and democratic credentials," he said. South Africa is expecting about three million visitors during the World Cup and thus had to interact with other African states on how tourism could be boosted throughout the continent in the long-term, said Mr Esau. Speaking at the same event, vice president of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, Dr Naledi Moyo said the World Cup came at an opportune time for the continent to proactively build its image. She said South Africa was afforded the opportunity to host the soccer showpiece because it had branded itself in the international community as a country alive with possibilities. "From apartheid brand to democratic brand, South Africa has done a lot in integrated state branding and it is good to see its International Marketing Council speaking to the world in one voice," said Dr Moyo. Hundreds of high profile delegates including government ministers, business leaders, industry captains and economists are meeting here to mobilise African entrepreneurs and capital. The fifth AIF, which started Monday and concludes today, is a partnership of the South African Department of Trade and Industry, the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the Commonwealth Business Council. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |