Reiterating that the economy would remain the country’s apex priority over the next five years, President Jacob Zuma at the weekend urged South African ambassadors and high commissioners stationed abroad to prepare themselves for “vigorous” marketing and trade promotion, appealing to missions to “gear themselves” towards supporting the economic cluster and opening up opportunities for foreign trade engagements.

“We want to open more opportunities abroad for our goods and services and attract more investment into the country in the next five years. We have set a growth target of 5% by 2019, which will not be easy to meet, and we need to use all the expertise and resources at our disposal to achieve this goal,” he told the 2014 Heads of Mission Conference, in Pretoria, on Sunday.

Noting that South Africa’s fiscal position remained “sound”, despite low levels of investment, Zuma appealed to diplomats to promote the National Development Plan Vision for 2030, stating that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) had, among its goals for this year, the creation of 15 government-to-government trade platforms.

He said government had established an inter-Ministerial committee on information and publicity, led by Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, to position the country abroad while communicating more effectively domestically.

The DTI also aimed to hold 19 trade and outward investment missions and facilitate the signing of 11 “enabling agreements” with foreign trade partners.

“[Government will further look to] address market access barriers in some countries on the continent and provide training on standards and quality assurance in some [African States],” he noted.

The DTI would, meanwhile, continue to explore trade and investment opportunities within the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, or Brics, grouping, while continuing to promote the “African agenda”.

“This agenda remains the anchor of our foreign policy. We should thus continue to work closely in support of the African Union and its agencies to build a credible, prosperous and peaceful Africa.

“In addition, every mission should be familiar with the Southern African Development Community integration and free-trade agenda and our expected role in the developmental processes in our region,” Zuma said.

He added that South Africa had made “good progress” at the first US–Africa Leaders' Summit, in the US, last month, lobbying for the extension of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act and the continued inclusion of South Africa after 2015.

Other than the economy, the current administration also remained committed to “making a difference” in other priority areas such as education, health, the fight against crime and corruption, rural development and land reform.

“This work is not yet completed, which is why we still see unhappy communities in some parts of the country. Each day, we try to reach another community without water, electricity, decent shelter, decent schools and so forth,” he concluded.