You are all invited. [Laughter.] The number of jobs linked to the ocean economy could rise to one million, more than double the level in 2010.
Today South Africa is one of the emerging world powers in Brics. These emerging world powers are at different places in their relationship with their oceans and coasts. In the light of this, the main maritime benefits for South Africa from its partnership with Brics countries are obvious. It will benefit from an older and developed marine economy across the South Atlantic Ocean in Brazil; another one across the Indian Ocean in India; a substantial and highly sophisticated polar marine industry in Russia; and a relatively new but fast-growing and public-sector driven maritime economy in China. So, we are properly located in Brics.
Hon members, this ocean economy is underpinned by the White Paper on National Environmental Management of the Ocean, which was approved by the Cabinet last December. The principles enshrined in this ocean economy policy are from the National Development Plan, which encourages the valuing of our oceans for the benefit of all our people.
Furthermore, with regard to the blue economy, our region is now emerging as an oil and gas hub, given the massive gas finds along Africa's Indian Ocean coast. The Atlantic seabed has long been a vital supply of these hydrocarbons. It is only in this way that we can build our ocean-dependent, trade-based economies into engines for growth and development in order to eliminate poverty, unemployment and inequality.
In conclusion, before I sit down, I want to give two free lectures. The first is to the hon Mngxitama. No amount of hot air, cheap political shots or sloganeering will address the fundamental challenges that we are confronted with as a country with regard to the protection of the environment. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
Secondly, we say this to the hon Steenkamp. We don't need your cheap lectures in relation to the task and the far-fetched solutions that you are suggesting. What we are saying is that as a government we are equal to the task and to ensuring matters for the future. I say to her: Let us give you a clear directive, that the protection of the environment for future generations is a collective responsibility ... [Interjections.] ... and that you cannot play party politics with it. We are saying that this government is offering pragmatic, realistic and objective solutions to the current challenges. [Interjections.]
As the ANC, we support this Budget Vote. Thank you very much. [Applause.]