On 2 March 2010 South Africans joined in action to celebrate 100 days to the “event of a lifetime” – the first ever FIFA World Cup to be presented on African soil.  Sentiments held globally towards South Africa with regards to this sporting event seem to be changing positively, with increasing support as milestone after milestone is being achieved.  The verdict is clear – South Africa is ready, and, Yes! – We can host a resoundingly successful World Cup.  For individuals and businesses alike it is time to unite in support of Bafana Bafana and to celebrate our homegrown talent, with pride and humility.

South Africa is already drawing growing number of tourists every year and has again excelled, despite the global economic crunch by registering a positive growth in foreign arrivals, contrary to global trends.  This is set to soar even further and members in the hospitality and tourism sectors especially are encouraged to optimise every opportunity to help create sustainable job opportunities and contribute to growing our country’s GDP.

Our country’s economic and industrial policies are set to increase the focus on sustainable development and growth.  The Economic Sectors and Employment Cluster are specifically focused to help create much needed jobs. In this context Proudly South African companies, who are committed to sustainable practices through compliance with the Campaign’s membership criteria, already have a competitive advantage.  The message – grow the economy and create employment, focus on empowerment of local players – is clear.

We would like to encourage members and society at large to do everything possible to maximise the conservation and efficient use of our scarce natural resources, especially energy and water.  Why not join millions of people across the globe and “switch off” for an hour on the evening of 27 March (from 20:30 pm) to help reduce global warming and demonstrate the value of working together in pursuing a worthwhile cause as part of the WWF’s Earth Hour campaign?  More details on this initiative have been captured in this edition of the newsletter.

In closing, members would have noted the increased emphasis placed by government on the important role of key strategies, such as aligning “the Competitive Supplier Development Programmes of some State-owned enterprises to a revamped National Industrial Participation Programme”... to boost the Proudly South African Campaign as confirmed publicly by the Ministry of Trade and Industry recently. There certainly is scope for local industries to supply a larger proportion of the inputs required for our country’s infrastructure in the areas of transport, power and water as was mentioned specifically.

Thank you to Proudly South African companies and members for your leadership and willingness to “Fly the Flag” for our country and its people.

Proudly South African, with its vested interested in promoting Buy Local will continue to support all constituencies in their endeavours to create a demand for homegrown, quality products and services.  

Buy Local for 2010 and beyond!

Dalene du Preez
Executive Manager: Marketing & Communications