I don't think that is a point of order. Continue, hon member.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (Mrs T V Tobias-Pokolo): I apologise; I was just indicating the fact that Helen Zille does not have a constituency office. [Laughter.] Let me continue, hon members.
As part of trade facilitation, we have developed an Africa strategy which will usher in more trade relations between South Africa and its African counterparts. Government has adopted the south-to-south trade relations which will focus more on nontraditional markets. I can safely report that we have held bilateral meetings with Cuba, China, Brazil, Egypt, the DRC and many other countries that I have not mentioned.
We will continue with our agenda of regional integration and avoid economic partnership agreements that undermine this noble idea. We will only lobby investors who will respect job creation in our country. We will also avoid a situation where South Africa will be used as a launching pad to access the African market. We will pursue exchange programmes for young people, especially in agro processing.
It is high time that small business accessed financial resources. We need to overhaul financial institutions and realise economic activities in each and every small province, town and village. The rhetoric on small business should come to an end.
We need to revamp the Public Service and rid it of inefficient public servants inherited from the past administration which didn't deal with development.
Food eaten in government meetings, including lunches and dinners for budget debates, must come from the people of Gugulethu, Marabastad and Kimberley. The juice we drink must be bottled in the townships, and the bread baked by women.
The youth must not only prune trees and cut grass or sweep streets, but they must plan skyscrapers. They must build trains and bridges. Young women of South Africa must be astronauts and computer engineers. Women's businesses need to be listed on the stock exchange. They must fly Boeing 747s.
We have promised those who will invest and provide skills with incentives. We have bailed out our companies in distress, and will continue to do so. We will continue to use the lottery funds for charity relief. We will continue to expose South African businesses and products to foreign markets through exhibitions, but we will focus more on women and youth.
We will continue to formalise youth companies. Hence we have embarked on the antipiracy campaign, which is slowly gaining momentum in a complex industry and with inexperienced officials. We will continue to protect South African intellectual property by confiscating counterfeit and pirated goods. We will encourage our people to be original and to buy originals. Our government will carefully scrutinise the merchants who enter our markets with these counterfeits and open spaza shops to front the actual criminal and political activities.
We will also not make any policy shift without prior consultation, but we will not be shy to do so, including the implementation of BEE quotes. We will deal harshly with fronting. Beneficiation is no longer a dream, but a reality.
The President will measure our performance through the number of jobs we have created, not the statements made, trips taken or meetings attended. We will be measured through the satellite offices of the DTI that we have established in rural areas and peri-urban communities, regarding how many companies we have assisted to register.
Hon members, I apologise. My time has come to an end. Thank you. [Applause.]