Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim, hon Deputy Minister Marius Fransman, the diplomatic corps in the gallery, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, I rise on behalf of the ANC in support of this Budget Vote. Hon Deputy Minister Fransman, may I at the same time say thank you very much for paying homage to Dulcie September in this House and thank you for bringing the family here. [Applause.]
The success of its economic diplomacy will determine the extent to which South Africa can achieve its domestic priorities. For South Africa to meet these priorities, its economy must be able to participate competitively in the global market. As the ANC, we believe that economic diplomacy is not limited to basic economic knowledge, but should be able to increase South Africa's voice and choice in international relations and co-operation.
The intensification of economic diplomacy is driven by the ANC to ensure that there are changes in the colonial patterns of economic relations. Furthermore, there needs to be an equitable and balanced relationship between the North and the South, transformation and beneficiation of Africa's natural resources, sustainable flows of foreign direct investment and access to markets for products from the South to address the issue of unemployment and contribute to poverty alleviation.
Since the advent of our democratic dispensation, many opportunities have been afforded to South African businesses continentally and globally.
Our vision as the ANC is for a better world and for a better Africa. [Applause.] Economic diplomacy reinforces the attainment of the objectives of national development. The ANC believes that there can be no peace without development, and no development without peace. [Applause.]
Economic diplomacy has become a priority for South Africa's international policy, and a number of initiatives - other than the stories of doom we heard here today - have been put in place to achieve the objectives set out in the work programme of the Department of International Relations and Co- operation, Dirco. The ANC indeed welcomes the White Paper of Dirco that articulates, amongst others, its vision on economic diplomacy, other than the selective quotes that we had here from the hon members of the opposition with regard to the National Development Plan, NDP. Here is a classical example of you, Minister, making sure that we follow the prescripts that have been laid down in the National Development Plan by these White Papers and others.
Economic diplomacy is illustrated in the multilateral fora through the global trading system that is administered by the World Trade Organisation, WTO, in which South Africa participates. In contrast to the previous round of trade negotiations, the Uruguay Round between 1986-1994, South Africa played an instrumental role within the Doha Round in the WTO. South Africa, as a developing country, accepted developed-country commitments. The ANC hopes that with the new leadership at the helm of the WTO, we can again realise a return to the implementation of the developmental agenda and decisions.
Successful economic diplomacy requires a close partnership with government, business and labour. Hon Davidson, you said only with business. [Applause.] Within the partnership of government, business and labour, it is important that South Africa's values, principles, and reputation are reflected in the conduct of her businesses abroad.
The solid political relations between South Africa and China led to China's imposition of a voluntary export restraint on 31 categories of clothing exports to South Africa until 2008 and the benefits that the industry has had as a result of that.
In the financial services sector a number of banks have set up operations in South Africa. This is yet again testimony to the confidence they have in this ANC-led government and this country.
The Brics countries pose a combined potential market worth over US$ 320 billion. This is an immense untapped treasure which creates numerous opportunities for South African exporters. China alone has a potential of US$ 133 billion, whereas India has a market of US$ 26,8 billion and Russia and Brazil respectively US$ 11,1 billion and US$ 11,4 billion. This is extremely significant for this country and its people.
For the period April 2011 to March 2012 and April 2012 to December 2012, foreign direct investment markets have been able to track 31 projects from 25 Brics companies with a potential investment of R12,6 billion. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Currently, South Africa is strategically located in two significant developing country coalitions: the G20 that is demanding fairer agricultural trade, and also the Nonagricultural Market Access, Nama, which advocates developing countries' rights to policy space for industrial development. Notably, South Africa is also a member of and supports the Africa Group in the WTO. Developing countries and the developmental agenda have been articulated by South Africa, and this highlights, very importantly, that what we ought to have is enhancing market access in areas of export interest in the developing world's balanced rule to protect and enhance policy space and technical assistance and capacity-building programmes to ensure that all developing countries can benefit. The struggle for peace and development in Africa poses a major challenge to the African Union. The ANC will always, as it has always done in the past, enable the South African government, through its effective policies - not confused policies - to promote peace, and speedy resolutions of conflicts in Africa. Economic diplomacy has become an integral component of the foreign policy of South Africa, particularly when it comes to attaining goals that will improve market access and, of course, trade with bilateral partners, and increase foreign direct investments. All of this is to position South Africa as a preferred tourism destination and to market ourselves abroad.
It is important to note that there is a link between peace diplomacy and economic diplomacy. South Africa's peace diplomacy efforts have helped to bring stability and prevent full-blown conflict in areas such as Burundi and the Ivory Coast, and we continue to mediate in Zimbabwe, hon Dudley. I think it is time we accepted that we must celebrate that the Zimbabwean people have gone to the polls and have voted for a new constitution. It is an important step in the lives of Zimbabweans to attain what we have all asked, that there needs to be peace in Zimbabwe. I think, despite the quibbles that we have had here today, we must celebrate that victory.
As much as South Africa has been told to stand high on the roof and shout, or to employ soft versus loud diplomacy, here is a victory that we can claim as South Africans. At the level of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, South Africa's rapid advancement in economic growth has created perceptions and concerns about our real intentions on the continent, whilst others have concluded that South Africa harbours hegemonic views and actions. This is far from the truth.
We have heard today of an attempt to prescribe to South Africa. Is it our human rights? Is it our national interest? What is it? We are still confused. We seem to be voting wrongly at the UN, and all of that. We can't be surprised that that level of confusion is coming through from the DA. We are not surprised that we have it because here we have a situation that articulates to us, in the guise of addressing human rights abuse, that the broad consensus and complexities in foreign countries are ignored. It seems like the DA often made calls to the South African government to support West-imposed regime change. If we cannot continue to negotiate and ask for peaceful solutions, then it means there is a call for something else. As the ANC, we will never do that, on the altar of our people. [Applause.]
In fact, it looks constantly as if it seeks to undermine South Africa's relations with countries that are hostile to the imperialist agenda. Hostility towards Cuba and Iran is being produced all the time.
I think this is not helpful, as they too have made contributions to bring us to democracy and assist us further. They are not abandoning us, but still continue to assist us.
Hon Minister, maybe we must ask for your help in this instance. We do not have federalism in this country. We have a unitary state and we ask that in international relations, we continue to defend our unitary position in this country. We cannot have a situation like last year, when hon Helen Zille, in her capacity as Premier of the Western Cape, visited the UK and met with British government leaders, the liberal democratic leaders and leaders of industry, without consulting you, Minister. Please, clarify. I hope I am wrong in this instance. We do not need that sort of situation here, where our country continues to be bad-mouthed, instead of showing a unified front.
None of the ANC's people has ever gone outside the borders of this country and said that we only had eight provinces. We say we have nine provinces in this country, despite the fact that the ANC does not govern the Western Cape. We are never so silly and petty to say that there are only eight provinces. We don't tell people to only invest in the one province and not in the other eight provinces.
So, Minister, we ask that you prevail in this situation, because South Africa is a country for all its people. [Applause.] We cannot allow that situation to continue. [Interjections.]
In preparing the country to become a winning nation in the coming decades of the 21st century, our international relations work must endeavour to shape and strengthen our national identity; we must cultivate our national pride and patriotism; address the injustices of our past, including those of race and gender; bridge the divides in our society to ensure social cohesion and stability; and grow the economy for the development and upliftment of our people. Those are our national interests. I thank you. [Applause.]