Tata, Mittal to attend IIC meet in Durban

TATA Group Chairman Ratan Tata and India-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal will be among seven international business leaders to attend the three-day International Investment Council to be hosted by President Thabo Mbeki this weekend in South Africa.

The other international business leaders are Masaki Miyaji of Mitsubishi Corporation, Naill Fitzgerald of Reuters Group, Sir Samuel Jonah of Anglo Gold Ashanti, Martin Kohlhaussen of Commerzbank AG and Sir Anthony O'Reilly of Independent News and Media.

"The three-day meeting will discuss, among other things, the current economic developments in South Africa, the Accelerated and Shared growth Initiative of South Africa, Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition, Job creation and Students Experience Programme," said a spokesperson for President Mbeki's office.

The last meeting of the IIC was held in October 2006

in Knysna in the Western Cape where the members reflected on an overview of the South African economy.

The agenda will include discussions on Small Medium and Micro Enterprises, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and related challenges, investment climate and key international issues.

"The government delegation will include Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the minister in the Presidency and ministers of trade and industry, public enterprises, finance, agriculture and land affairs, minerals and energy, public works and communications.

"The success of the work of the IIC is of importance to South Africa's people with efforts at attracting more investments into the country that will assist further to grow the economy and thus defeat the scourge of poverty and unemployment," said the spokesperson.