Chairperson, I am glad that the debate has not been too heated today, so we can still be quite cool amongst ourselves.
The ACDP is fully supportive of government's emphasis on job creation. The economy we know has not created enough jobs for those South Africans able and willing to work, even during the boom times. This has been compounded by the global economic crisis, with the result that millions of people are poverty stricken. Clearly, urgent steps need to be taken to alleviate the plight of so many South Africans, and that the ACDP supports.
As we know, this department was created to address the perceived gap in government's economic policy-making, planning and co-ordination machinery. The idea was that working together with other government departments, state entities and social partners, South Africa would achieve better economic and employment outcomes. Clearly, we as the ACDP support this.
However, we do share concerns expressed by other members about the possible duplication of the work that is being done by National Treasury, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Planning Commission and this department. Clearly, this must be addressed.
In order to achieve the economic targets that have been pointed out by many speakers today, the country will have to double its rate of economic growth. We agree that we'll have to move out of that cycle of 3% to 4%, getting to the 7% sustainable growth.
Whilst we appreciate, as the Minister has previously said, that there is no textbook available to achieve that 7% growth and to create the five million plus jobs aimed for, we can learn from other emerging markets such as Brazil, India and China. We trust that our membership of the Brics group - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - will assist us in this learning curve.
Minister, we as the ACDP support the departure from a consumption- to a production-driven economy in which growth is not only an aim in itself, but a means of job creation. We will, however, as a nation have to improve our productivity to be more globally competitive to achieve economic growth targets.
It is undoubtedly so that productivity, innovation and entrepreneurs are key to economic growth and job creation. Therefore, Minister, your subprogramme that focuses on these areas must be supported and encouraged. It is the entrepreneurs that hold the key to unlocking the potential for increased economic growth and job creation. They must be supported in every way possible by government. Obstacles to doing business must be identified and dealt with, including those structural constraints in our economy which you referred to, Minister.
Whilst the ACDP, in principle, supports the New Growth Path and the Industrial Policy Action Plan, Ipap 2, we differ with regard to the degree to which the state can create jobs by itself. However, we should emphasise that we do understand the role that the state needs to play in the economy itself, but, clearly, as we all agree, there is a partnership that is necessary between the social partners.
Indeed, Minister, you yourself have said that the growth path recognises the crucial role of the private sector in creating jobs and also that partnerships are critical to the success of our economy. Therefore, we support your emphasis on social dialogue with social partners, including labour and business, whilst appreciating that this dialogue cannot substitute the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, but should complement it and hopefully reach down to a lower level. Thank you. [Time expired.]