Call to Africans to let peace win

DEPUTY Minister of Trade and Industry Fikile Majola has encouraged business owners in the Eastern Cape to ensure their relationships with foreigners are amicable to maintain peace on the continent and improved business opportunities.

Majola was addressing a meeting of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) at Mount Frere in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality.

The government was “saddened” by the recent xenophobic attacks in the country, he said, and was working hard to strengthen trade relations with African countries.

Positive trade relations among African nations would open more opportunities for local businesses, he said.

“Therefore it is critical to ensure that Africans do not fight among themselves.”

Majola said the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement was expected to boost intra-African trade by 52% by 2022.

“The agreement will create the world’s biggest free trade area, with 54 countries and more than a billion people enjoying mostly tariff-free trade.

“I know we can despair when we observe what is happening in our nation, but we should not despair. We will overcome our difficulties. We are the children of Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Mama Oliver Tambo,” he said.

The government was working to boost the economy, he reiterated.

“We need to diversify the economy. We should all be working towards the goal of ensuring maximum growth and the success of our businesses,” he said. |