Zuma offers Germans the use of SA's 'clearing house service'

 11 November, 2015 09:01

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Jacob Zuma hold hands as they inspect the guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany November 10, 2015.
Image by: REUTERS/Stefanie Loos / REUTERS

President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday night encouraged German businesses to make use of South Africa’s “clearing house service”.

Speaking at a dinner to mark his official visit in Berlin‚ Zuma quoted SA’s upward trajectory on the World Economic Forum’s Annual Global Competitiveness Report 2015/16 as a reason why the country should be attractive to investors

Zuma said he was “encouraged” that SA had climbed up seven places from 56 to 49 out of 140 countries‚ and stressed that the “biggest improvements” had come in health and primary education‚ efficiency‚ technological readiness and innovation.

And‚ while it “has also improved in the areas of macro-economic environment‚ higher education and training‚ and business sophistication”‚ Zuma said “South Africa cannot be complacent and government is committed to improve our investment climate”.

“We meet with business in the Presidential Business Working Group to discuss education and skills‚ infrastructure and the regulatory environment as well as the labour market environment‚” said Zuma.

“We are also establishing a one stop Inter-Departmental Clearing House to attend to investor complaints and problems.

“The minister of trade and industry is adding capacity to create a specialised unit that will fast track‚ unblock and reduce red tape in government.

“Investors are encouraged to contact the (Department of Trade and Industry_ investment unit for this clearing house service.”

Zuma ended by acknowledging Germany as being “by far South Africa’s most important trading partner in the Euro28”.

“It is important for us to keep engaging on issues of mutual interest‚ and improve economic and trade relations between the two countries and the African continent.
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