[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

Deputy President Jacob Zuma concluded his working visit to Malaysia yesterday and returned to South Africa this morning.

The Deputy President was in Malaysia for the Global 2000 Langkawi International Dialogue smart partnership conference. Heads of State and business leaders from Southern Africa and Malaysia and other Commonwealth member states attended the conference. It was aimed at getting leaders from developing countries to discuss how they can confront the challenges of globalisation through smart partnerships.

Deputy President Zuma described the conference as having been highly conscious of the need for practical action, and said there was consensus that developing countries need to start making an impact on the agenda of globalisation, while also strengthening South-to-South links.

During the conference, the Deputy President held bilateral discussions with heads of state and his counterparts from other countries that were in attendance.

Yesterday he met with the Vice President of Uganda, Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe. The two leaders discussed, among other things, conflicts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, and were in agreement that no effort must be spared in restoring stability to countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the wars have a negative effect on investor confidence and economic development in the region.

The two leaders expressed appreciation that the next Dialogue conference to be held in Uganda next year, will deal directly with the difficulties faced by developing countries when courting foreign direct investment, and will discuss solutions to the problems.

Deputy President Zuma asked Vice President Kazibwe to convey South Africa's appreciation to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, for the role he played in Burundi peace negotiations in Arusha, Tanzania, recently.

On his way back to South Africa from Malaysia, the Deputy President stopped over at Singapore last night and had a working dinner with influential business people. They included: -

* The Vice President of Daimler Chrysler South East Asia
* Senior Vice President of Singapore Airlines
* Manager of Southern Africa Investment Fund
* President of the South Africa-Singapore Business Association.

The Deputy President briefed them about steps being taken by Government to create an environment conducive to foreign direct investment in South Africa.

The business leaders raised concern that the South African Government was not vociferous enough in communicating the tremendous progress that had been made over the last few years to set the country on the right economic, social and political path.

Earlier in the week, the Deputy President held talks with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, aimed at cementing economic ties between the two countries. There are already substantial investments in South Africa by Malaysian companies.

Contact: Lakela Kaunda at 082 782 2575

Issued by The Presidency

23 November 2000