Sacci calls for business-friendly blueprint to calm investor fears

IN THE 2012/13 Budget speech tomorrow, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) will seek clarity on the following issues:

The planned financing model of the various infrastructure investment programmes and the borrowing strategy to avoid crowding out of the private sector.

The progress made on provincial interventions by the National Treasury and the expected timelines for continued assistance to these provincial governments towards restoration of a conducive business environment and fiscal sustainability.

The strategy to achieve a tax neutral outcome for the business community given the possible additional taxes such as the carbon tax and local business tax.

The progress on finding a suitable funding model for the National Health Insurance scheme.

Specific interventions to taper the public wage bill to sustainable levels and progress on linking compensation to the government-wide performance management system.

Tangible and immediate measures to cut regulatory bottlenecks and red tape for business and SMES (small and medium enterprises) in particular in order to reduce the cost of doing business.

Progress on the integration of development finance institutions and general business support, promotion initiatives and plans to ease access to finance for SMES.

Reassurance to foreign and domestic investors on economic stability specifically relating to concerns on nationalisation.

Sacci hopes that the Budget statement will reflect a business-friendly fiscal policy that reduces the many hindrances to achieving economic growth and job creation by the private sector.