UCDP 2009 Elections Manifesto- TRADE AND INDUSTRY

3. TRADE AND INDUSTRY
A strong and balanced economy
A UCDP-led government will implement policies which will deliver:
o The creation of jobs while promulgating laws that balance the right of the workers and employers
o Lower taxes while increasing the collection thereof
o A free entrepreneurial system
o Stimulation of SMMEs and the provision of government-funded or government-enabled infrastructure and local economic development initiatives. Public-private partnerships are an important means of leveraging private-sector investment into these programs as is the restructuring of State assets;
o Deregulation will be controlled to support the right to unimpeded access to the employment market: to this end we shall ensure that
o Small business is prepared sufficiently to meet the challenges of an internationally competitive economy
o An enabling environment for small enterprises
o A leveled the playing field between big and small businesses, as well as between rural and urban businesses
o The facilitation of greater equalization of income, wealth and earning opportunities
o Advancement of women in all business sectors
o The creation of long term jobs
o Cohesion between small enterprises
o Inducement allowances to foreign investors who will in turn benefit from tax concessions and fair labour laws
o Student bursaries to qualify them for skilled blue collar jobs
http://www.ucdp.org.za/default.asp?id=1143

ACDP says ICASA’s sudden about-turn is damaging South Africa as rand depreciates and further jobs are lost.

ACDP MP and Whip, Cheryllyn Dudley says:

The ACDP welcomes last night’s judgment in the South Gauteng High Court that dismissed the urgent application by ICASA and COSATU to prevent this morning’s listing of Vodacom on the Stock Exchange.

Both government and ICASA gave the listing the go-ahead a long time ago; this sudden about-turn has caused huge damage to South Africa in the eyes of foreign investors. These investors are watching South Africa very closely following the installation of the new administration under President Jacob Zuma.

We already have a global economic crisis and cannot afford these knee-jerk reactions as international markets will impact drastically on us.

Foreign investors require consistency and predictability from governments and regulators. We immediately saw a 3% drop of the Rand against the US Dollar following the High Court application. This we cannot afford as it will cause a further loss of jobs deepening poverty levels.

While ACDP recognizes the value of public input, this could have been done a long time ago. The ACDP will call on ICASA to account for this about-turn which smacks of political interference.

The ACDP will forward questions to the Minister of Communications and call for ICASA to account to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on the issue.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For further information contact:
Cheryllyn Dudley, MP and Whip, ACDP Parliament, 082 890 6520

Libby Norton, Media Attaché, ACDP, Parliament.
Tel: 021 851 9554 Cell: 07 25 70 6361
lnorton@parliament.gov.za

The ACDP stands for leadership by Christian principles, freedom of religion, a free market economy with a social conscience, family values, community empowerment and human rights in a federal system. Read the ACDP Manifesto at www.acdp.org.za