Plaudits for planning body

THE South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday congratulated the National Planning Commission on the revised National Development Plan.

"The National Development Plan (NDP) is one of the most important long-term strategy documents for South Africa and contains a host of practical and creative proposals to better economic and social conditions in the country," said Sacci president Chose Choeu.

The NDP said the business community had an important role to play in strengthening the economic conditions in the country, he said.

The NDP was presented to President Jacob Zuma during a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament on Wednesday.

Choeu said the original and revised NDP were both lengthy documents that required detailed analysis to ensure no unintended consequences would develop from otherwise well-intentioned policy proposals.

"It is important to note that the role of organised business is to sensitise the government to the multitude of possible effects, both positive and detrimental, that might flow from official policy," Choeu said.

So while the NDP as a whole was certainly a positive initiative towards achieving policy cohesion, it could not altogether circumvent public debate.

Through such an engagement a more efficient coordination of viewpoints could be reached on an agreed document that would secure the support of the business community, he said.

Once agreed on all South Africans could work towards short- and medium-term plans that would give effect to the goals of the NDP.