JEDDAH, 18 January 2003 — Zanele Mbeki, South Africa's first lady, said yesterday that her country was a safe place for foreign investors.
She was speaking to a group of journalists here on the eve of the opening of the two-day Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF).
Mbeki arrived here accompanied by South Africa's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Mrs. Lindine Hendricks to take part in a businesswomen's forum organized as part of JEF.
Some 500 women working in the fields of finance, economy and education from the Kingdom and abroad are taking part in the forum. This year's forum is the first to feature Saudi businesswomen.
"Our International Investment Council, which advises the president on investment issues, is made up of representatives of the world's leading international companies, and they have come out to say that they invest here and will continue to do so in future. Even during times of war investors still stayed in Africa," Mbeki said.
She also stressed the importance of responsible journalism in her country.
"The press in South Africa is still in the hands of the White minority," added Deputy Minister Hendricks. "When there's a mistake they amplify it. They hardly ever focus on the good news".
On women's participation in the forum, Mbeki stressed the importance of utilizing the resources of Kingdom's female population. "I'm here to listen and understand what are the hurdles that face the Saudi businesswomen today, and to see where we can help and complement them," she said.
