Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) has welcomed the appointment of Roelf Meyer as South Africa's ambassador to the US, saying he has demonstrated the maturity and political acumen needed to enhance and strengthen ties between the two countries.

The organisation notes that his commitment to dialogue, reconciliation and nation-building helped lay the foundation for South Africa’s transition to the new democratic dispensation in 1994.

“Given the journey he has traversed and the personal investment he has made in building our democracy, Mr Meyer is the right adult to place in the room to ensure we arrest any potential erosion in the relationship between Washington and Pretoria, considering the continued importance of the US as a trading partner,” says BLSA CEO Busisiwe Mavuso.

BLSA stresses that the relationship between South Africa and the US is economically vital. The US is a major export market, source of foreign investment and a provider of employment opportunities for South Africans, with about 600 American companies operating in South Africa, many using it as a base for broader regional operations.

BLSA reiterates its belief that South Africa’s foreign policy must be evaluated through the lens of the country’s long-term economic and developmental interests.

“BLSA and its members stand ready to support Mr Meyer in his efforts to strengthen relations with the United States, and we look forward to a new era of collaboration and exploring new opportunities arising from this appointment,” says Mavuso.