Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has challenged the private sector to raise its business concerns with government.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe door is open. Business people should raise issues on a continuous basis,\u201d he told an audience mainly made up of business people at the Ernst & Young Strategy Growth Forum Africa in Sandton on Monday evening.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa\u2019s comments come after government last month made a U-turn on the contentious visa regulations which, according to critics, threatened the travel and tourism industries.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa, a former businessman who headed some of the country\u2019s multinationals, said regulators listen when people speak up. Regulations should not be a burden to businesses, he said. \u201cThere may be policy positions that irk business… the door is open. Let us engage with each other to find solutions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said government, business, labour and non-governmental organisations should collaborate to solve the country\u2019s problems. Government does not have a monopoly on wisdom and he urged business not to claim such a monopoly. \u201cI do not subject to the view of labelling people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa also appealed to the private sector to play a bigger role in the South African economy – especially in infrastructure investment – saying it should be bold and innovative.<\/p>\n
He cited the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme as an example of private sector contribution to infrastructure investment. \u201cThe field is wide open for the private sector to play a key role,\u201d Ramaphosa said. He invited the private sector to even make unsolicited proposals. \u201cGovernment will be open to it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said government also supports South African firms\u2019 forays into new markets. \u201cWe actively support our companies. When I was in the private sector I saw that happen a lot,\u201d he said. Between 2002 and 2013 Ramaphosa was chairperson of mobile operator MTN.<\/p>\n
He also made an impassioned plea for South African companies to embrace transformation, saying this is necessary for growth.<\/p>\n
Following a comment by Investec CEO Stephen Koseff, who was in the audience, that companies should simultaneously pursue growth and transformation, Ramaphosa said: \u201cMy approach to transformation is slightly different to yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the past companies prioritised growth at the expense of transformation, he said. \u201cThat was a flawed approach. With my experience and failed business life, I strongly believe that transformation should be the order of the day. It is when you have transformed that you grow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa said the South African economy would have grown faster in the past had it been inclusive.<\/p>\n
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