Team South Africa - a partnership between the government and business - will use the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to reassure global political and business leaders that it is ready to stage a successful 2010 Fifa World Cup, as well as position South Africa as "the next big thing".

The partnership also aims to drive dialogue on the African agenda and will be encouraging WEF delegates to look South for fresh solutions to a better world, by experiencing the magnitude of the country's trade and investment offerings.

"This is a conversation we want to engender and seed at the World Economic Forum," said International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC) Chairperson, Anitha Soni.

With the rise of China, India, and Brazil among others as economic powerhouses, the global order was fast becoming more democratic, she said.

"South Africa may not rank with these countries in GDP terms, but based on its track record, experience and position within Africa. Its voice is an important and influential one."

Organised under the theme, "Improve the State of the World: Rethink Redesign and Rebuild," this year's annual meeting in Switzerland comes within the context of promoting a global system of governance.

The five-day gathering of movers and shakers will be assessing a host of issues facing the planet, from disaster aid in the aftermath of Haiti's devastating earthquake to reforms aimed at preventing another financial markets collapse.

Team South Africa
Represented in the partnership are the Presidency, IMC, Government Communication and Information Service, Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), Discovery, Old Mutual, Absa, Telkom, Nedbank, MTN, Sasol, Investec, Transnet and First Rand.

BLSA chief executive Michael Spicer said the partnership was the beginning of a long-term public-private collaboration that delivered results-led dialogue between business and government.

"It is the aim of this partnership to increase our global competitiveness rating by contributing to the setting of the global agenda, which is, in essence, firmly aligned to the goals of the IMC," he said.

He said both business and government were well poised to exploit the focus towards profiling the sound economic fundamentals of a country, and one that was ready to play a vital role in the economic growth and development of the region.

Strong African representation
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said addressing new ways of doing things was expected to have a direct bearing on how countries would be able to improve their global competitiveness.

"It is therefore important to ensure that any global solutions are developed by all stakeholders with the inclusion of a strong African representation. This is unashamedly the South African agenda at Davos," said Davies.

He added that the so called "fresh solutions for a better world" were more often than not simple concepts with a tangible impact and required nothing less than thinking defined by seeing solutions and not barriers.

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