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Johannesburg - The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) says it expects Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to announce enterprise support, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the business environment in general.
Gordhan will deliver the medium-term budget policy statement on Tuesday. The statement gives an update of SA fiscal policy and expenditure for a three-year period.
Sacci said it also sought clarity on measures to address regulatory bottlenecks and red tape for business generally and SMEs; further allocations for SME support finance and urgent attention to improving such funding; and further funding and tangible incentives for job-creation initiatives with specific attention to increasing youth employment.
The business formation was also concerned about direction on the implementation of the national health insurance scheme (NHI), skills development initiatives, and the green economy strategy and provision for the outcomes of climate change talks COP 17.
"Details on the funding and implementation of the new growth path are also expected," Sacci CEO Neren Rau said.
"Business also wants the treasury to commit to a clear shift away from poverty alleviation measures that continue to foster dependency in favour of supporting economic activity that contributes to employment creation and poverty eradication on a sustainable basis."
Although debt levels would remain elevated, the Treasury should announce pro-growth and pro-business infrastructure development to create an enabling business environment for higher gross domestic product growth, Rau said.
"Sacci expects the budget statement to continue to be underpinned by fiscal discipline," Rau said.
