Hon members, we are proud to have developed the National Development Plan, the NDP, a development roadmap that has been embraced by all sectors in our country. It is designed to assist us to achieve the vision set out in the country's Constitution and in many of the country's historic documents such as the African Claims and the Freedom Charter. The National Development Plan document seeks to unite all South Africans around a common programme of achieving prosperity and equality. It promotes active citizenry to strengthen development, democracy and accountability. Also, it seeks to bring about faster economic growth, higher investment and greater labour absorption.
The National Development Plan states that by 2030, the economy should be close to full employment, people should have the necessary skills, ownership of the means of production should be more diverse, and the economy should be able to grow rapidly.
The National Planning Commission estimates that the country can create 11 million jobs by 2030 through, amongst others, building partnerships between the public sector, business and labour. In pursuit of this goal, we will continue to work with the social partners, the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, business, labour and the community sector to promote such collaboration.
In February, we met the business sector and they expressed their wish to present for discussion, by parties, at least five obstacles to investments and doing business in South Africa. We have agreed that Ministers will lead sectoral engagements with business to identify the obstacles in each sector and propose solutions. These consultations will culminate in a meeting with the business working group in May. We will also be engaging labour, youth, the community sector and other sectors as part of promoting sustainable development. I thank you, hon Speaker. [Applause.]