This resonates with the resolution on economic transformation of 2007, the 52nd conference of the ANC in Polokwane and the 53rd conference in Mangaung 2012, namely that the ANC seeks integration with economies of Southern Africa on a fair and equitable basis and desires to build stronger economic linkages across the continent as a whole.
South Africa's approach to the SADC Protocol on Trade in Services is also informed by the resolve to build and strengthen the regional market for the services sector, attract foreign direct investment, encourage skills transfer across the region, provide a platform for the SADC to participate in the global services economy and for our domestic and regional firms to access economies of scale. Chapter 7 of the National Development Plan makes a broad and explicit reference to the vital role that South Africa has to play in regional and continental economic growth, development and trade, including the point that Africa must take its rightful place as an important global economic player.
The SADC member states have recognised the importance of services such as transport, infrastructure, communication, energy, tourism and finance as significant economic sectors in their own right and the vital and complementary role these services play in the development and support of manufacturing and trade.
Ngakho-ke kufanele kusheshe ukwakhiwa kwengqalasizinda yemigwaqo, imizila yezitimela, ezokuxhumana, ezamandla, ezokuvakasha kanye noxhaso lwemali kosomabhizinisi futhi konke lokhu kusabalale kuwo wonke amazwe asezansi ne- Afrika kuqhubeke kusabalale nezwekazi lonke.
Futhi loku kuhweba kwamazwe asezansi ne-Afrika ngezinkonzo kufanele kukhulise osomabhizinisi nezinhlangano ezisebenza ngokubambisana ukuze abantu bakithi bazibambele ngokwabo ekuthuthukeni komnotho wezwekazi lonke. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.) [Therefore, we must speed up the putting into place of infrastructure in respect of roads, railway lines, communication, energy and tourism as well as providing financial support for entrepreneurs. All this must spread over all the countries in Southern Africa and across the entire continent.
This trade between countries in Southern Africa in respect of services must develop businessmen and co-operatives so that our people can develop the economy of the entire continent.]
The SADC protocol seeks to promote sustainable economic growth and development to improve the standard and quality of life of the region's people. It is worth noting that the protocol also recognises that anticompetitive agreements, abuse of the market position, cartels, anticompetitive mergers and acquisitions constitute business conduct that is detrimental to competitive economic growth and development. Therefore, state parties are encouraged to use their respective domestic laws and co- operate with each other on issues relating to competition and enforcement of policies to combat anticompetitive business practices. South Africa stands ready to use her competition legislation to discourage and punish anticompetitive business activity.
The SADC Protocol on Trade in Services lays a firm foundation for future negotiations at the level of the SADC, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the East African Community, EAC, Tripartite Free Trade Agreement, FTA. Therefore Chairperson, the ANC supports the SADC Protocol on Trade in Services and requests Parliament to approve it. I thank you. [Applause.].