The BBWG supports the Government’s higher ambitions regarding the growth rate and the need to prioritise key issues for attention . The focus of the dialogue between the President and business leaders through the BBWG has been on implementation of agreed actions and removing obstacles to growth.

The private sector is actively supporting the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGI-SA) and there are a number of areas where Government and the business sector are co-operating successfully in joint efforts to meet the new growth and development targets. It is important to recognise these efforts such as JIPSA (through the National Business Initiative), BPO (through the Business Trust) and crime (through Business Against Crime). There is also regular dialogue between Government and business on the implementation of ASGI-SA through Business Unity SA (BUSA) as well as through other working groups.

The specific areas for attention between Government and the BBWG were:

• Skills development;
• Business Process Outsourcing;
• Infrastructure support;
• Crime;
• Housing delivery;
• Energy security;
• Constraints on the international flow of knowledge and skills, and
• Environmental Impact Assessments.

The Anti-Crime Leadership Forum (ACLF) comprises of ten members each from business and Government with the joint Secretariat function. The ACLF meets six times a year to address key areas e.g. blockages, risk areas, challenges, celebrate and communicate successes etc. The following meeting will be on 02 August 2007. Please refer to the events page for the latest record of these meetings. The work groups meet regularly for the operational issues and ensure that there is meaningful impact and recognisable progress all round.