Govt-business compact lauded

Building inclusive economy needs all partners president.

- Ina Opperman

RAMAPHOSA: SECOND PHASE OF PARTNERSHIP REQUIRES FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT CREATION

President Cyril Ramaphosa lauded government's partnership with business when he spoke at the recent Business Unity South Africa's annual meeting.

He listed government achievements that were reached thanks to collaboration with business, but did not mention National Health Insurance.

Business Unity SA (Busa) refused to sign the Presidential Health Compact last week because it did not agree with the unilateral changes to the document that indicated that the signatories would support the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) and the NHI Act.

Ramaphosa said that deepening the partnership between government and business is essential to the growth of the SA economy and the progress of the country.

He also referred to the new government of national unity (GNU), saying that by its nature, a GNU brings together viewpoints and ideological and political positions that may at times be at variance with each other.

"However, as the parties to the GNU, we were able to achieve broad consensus on the most pressing issues," he said.

"We are clear that our most critical task now is to build an inclusive economy that generates sustainable growth, creates jobs and eradicates poverty.