Recently , the National Business
Initiative for Growth Development and Democracy (NBI) held its annual report
back at Sibaya Casino.
The initiative is supported by more than
100 major national companies that collectively contribute millions of Rands to the advancement of the initiative's objectives
of societal and democratic development. Among the initiative's focus areas
are education and skills, travel and tourism, sustainability and equity. The programme included a panel presentation
and discussion which dealt with
business and sustainability, the political context of business and environmental
challenges for business.
Hixonia Nyasulu, Chairman, Sasol Limited
stressed the importance of business growth, the responsible use of resources
and respect for environment which requires "enlightened self-interest", in
order to grow. Companies have to be concerned about their reputations and
this will be a growing trend in the future.
Prof Steven Friedman Director, Centre for
the Study of Democracy, University
of Johannesburg suggested that
politics matters to business in South Africa. We are increasingly
operating in a context where the government's role in sustaining economic
growth in the country is escalating. In order for this to be of worth, government is required to develop a
constructive and effective partnership with the major actors in the economy. Government
is required to be more accountable to its citizens, which is key to a
sustainable future.
Business must also ensure that enters in
to dialogue with government as no one has all the answers in the changing
economic climate.
Rico Euripidou Research Manager, GroundWork
maintained that "development can only be truly sustainable when it
optimizes the environment, which in turn makes for perfect business
sense!". He added that it was invariably the poor who were negatively
affected by environmental degradation, and asked "whether it was fair
for business to reap the profits of their business ventures before paying the
full price of the environmental cost of that business activity?".
He concluded by suggesting that what was
essentially required was "a sustainable population, exercising
sustainable levels of consumption (globally and locally), and investing and
implementing improved technology and related practices". That way,
business, civil society and its future generations may enjoy a win-win
situation.
In closing, Mr Parkhurst (NBI's KZN Board
Chairman) confirmed that business and government collaborations, together
with a President Obama-type "yes we can" attitude, can make a
difference. Parkhurst suggested that, as business, we need to:
- Commit to changing those situations and/or practices that we
are able to influence directly; and
- Identify opportunities for cross-industrial sharing in order
to address those issues which we don't have direct influence over.
This presentation upheld the NBI goal that, through constructive
engagement and strategic collective action, the private sector can shape the
economic, competitive and social context within which it operates, as well as
the sustainability of communities and the natural environment. http://www.nbi.org.za/ |