Business feels it's shunned - Zuma

THE South African business sector feels the government is not consulting it on key economic issues and decisions, President Jacob Zuma said in Pretoria yesterday.

"Business said in all the activities we are not being engaged as business. We have views, thoughts and ideas we have to share," he told journalists after a four-hour meeting between government officials and business representatives.

The meeting had been fruitful, he said.

"As soon as that point was made, I thought it was very important to organise this meeting as quickly as possible. It was important (to hold talks) so that business could express their feelings and for government to understand and clarify certain things."

The meeting was attended by senior government officials including Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel.

Business was represented by the leadership of the Black Business Council and Business Unity SA. The business community asked for the meeting during the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, last month.

Zuma said the parties agreed to meet again within two months to further deliberate on the obstacles stifling the South African economy.