MD’S MESSAGE
Welcome to
SA Banker
– and to the
Banking
Summit 2012
W
e’re proud to welcome you to this second issue
of SA Banker, a quarterly magazine for all
those with an interest in banking in southern
Africa. And if you’re interested in banking and
the role it can play in southern Africa, we’d
like to use this opportunity to invite you to an important industry
forum, the Banking Summit 2012.
Held annually, the summit seeks to position the banking
industry as a significant player and catalyst for economic
growth, global competitiveness and socio-economic development
and transformation. The summits are also aimed at enhancing
relations between the industry and its key stakeholders
– including government, media, communities, labour and
professional bodies – who have a direct and vested interest in
the financial services industry.
The 2012 Summit comes at a time when the National Planning
Commission has just released the National Development Plan
for discussion. We view this as an opportunity to find key areas
where the banking industry and government can work together
towards a common goal to alleviate the triple ills facing our
nation, namely unemployment, poverty and inequality. One
such area is infrastructure development.
Government has since established the Presidential
Infrastructure Coordination Commission (PICC) to oversee
infrastructure development. But the challenge has remained
with the funding of infrastructure projects with no clarity and
clear signal to the financial markets of the extent to which
government might look to funding solutions and partnerships
with private financial institutions. This brings into focus the
potential for public-private partnerships and deal structuring
that can be pursued between the government, development
finance institutions and the banking sector.
The financial services sector and banks in particular are
willing to explore innovative ways of funding infrastructure.
The 2012 Annual Banking Summit will seek to unpack these
innovative models and ideas.
The Summit will be a strategic forum in which the banking
sector and government, together with development finance
institutions (DFIs), can concretely develop infrastructure
development financing packages to enhance investments for the
economic development of South Africa. Therefore the summit’s
theme is ‘Public Private Partnerships: how can South Africa fund
major infrastructure projects better?’
The Banking Association South Africa would like to wish the
South African icon, Nelson Mandela a very happy birthday. Madiba,
our hope is that on this birthday, you realise how much you mean to
South Africa and get to feel the glory that you have given us.
Cas Coovadia
Managing Director, Banking Association South Africa
BANKING SUMMIT 2012
Keynote Address: Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe
Date: 21 August 2012
Time: 09h00
Venue: The Hyatt Rosebank
Please direct your bookings or enquiries to
[email protected] or call 011- 645 6730.
Edition 2
SA BANKER
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