Hon Speaker, since 1995 the Global Business Forum has convened the heads of global business, chairmen, presidents and chief executive officers, CEOs, of the world's largest companies to engage on the dynamic frontiers of international commerce.
From 26 to 28 June 2010, at a time when the eyes of the globe were on South Africa for its historic moment in the world of sport, the Global Forum gathered global leaders in Cape Town to focus on substantive issues and opportunities in the developing world.
It was the first time the Global Forum - which was started by Fortune - was hosted in Africa, and it was also the first time it was cohosted by Time and CNN. For Cape Town, the experience was enhanced by including Time 100 honourees, the world's most influential people from the highest ranks of government, science and technology, business, sports, media, entertainment and nongovernmental organisations. Their participation yielded rich insights into the broader interdisciplinary context in which today's global companies are operating.
This year's event was opened by the South African President, Jacob Zuma, who addressed the forum live via satellite from the G20 summit in Toronto. It attracted very high profile participants such as former United States President Bill Clinton, Irish President Mary Robinson, social activist Graa Machel and CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, as well as a range of influential business people including DuPont chief executive officer Ellen J Kullman; Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide; Enrique Salem, president and chief executive officer of Symantec; Royal Dutch Shell chief executive officer Peter Voser; Sports Illustrated group editor, Terry McDonell; and Fortune managing editor, Andy Serwer. Archbishop Desmond Tutu closed the historic event by offering a benediction and issuing a challenge to participants to look at driving growth and investment in Africa and the developing world.
This event was unique in that it was the main event taking place in South Africa as opposed to being a regional breakaway, and allowed some of the world's most influential business decision-makers to visit the country for the first time and see the opportunities that South Africa and the continent offer. It also offered unprecedented and intimate networking with South Africa's top business luminaries including intimate dinners in the private homes of South Africa's most distinguished citizens. The event received focus coverage by Time and so on, as well as the international media.
With the Minister of Trade and Industry undertaking more than five interviews in a two hour session ... [Time expired.]