Job creation, poverty alleviation, economic growth and empowerment must be addressed at the upcoming growth and development summit, black business chief Patrice Motsepe said on Tuesday.
Speaking after the presidential black business working group met with President Thabo Mbeki at Tuynhuys, Motsepe said the summit was an ideal forum to ensure that a sound plan was developed for the economic well-being of the country.
Motsepe is the head of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce, ARMGold’s executive chairman and president of the Black Business Council.
The growth summit is scheduled to take place in May.
Trade Minister Alec Erwin, who also attended the meeting, said that business had shown support for the black empowerment policy but felt a number of points of the policy needed refinement.
He said this included looking at suggestions relating to the correct interpretation of the proposed empowerment scoreboards.
Erwin said there were also lengthy discussions on the progress towards unity among organisations representing business.
The business leaders reported that while considerable progress was being made the process should not be rushed.
The group has agreed to convene a black business lekgotla by the end of the year.
Mbeki’s office said in a statement afterwards that the meeting had also considered the response of black business to the President’s State of the Nation address and the recent budget speech. – Sapa