South Africa holds the G20 presidency for 2025, granting it an opportunity to shape global economic discussions on critical issues like economic growth, trade, climate change, and sustainable development.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the South African delegation at the forum in Switzerland and is expected to address the WEF on Tuesday.
Some 350 top government officials and more than 900 CEOs will attend this year’s WEF, with nearly 3,000 participants.
It marks South Africa’s first participation in the forum under the government of national unity.
Payi said South Africa should leverage the World Economic Forum to highlight its work in preparation for its G20 presidency.
“These two forums are interconnected, so South Africa must use the World Economic Forum to emphasise its efforts under the G20 presidency.”
Payi also believes that the involvement of opposition parties in the government could boost investor confidence.
“President Ramaphosa’s policies are more likely to succeed because he has the cooperation of the opposition, which is a positive signal for investors as they know his promises will be carried out with broad government support.”
However, Payi warned that logistical challenges in South Africa’s import and export infrastructure, such as rail and port issues, have affected the country’s competitiveness.
“We are losing ground due to logistics and transport networks, and countries like Mozambique are taking advantage of our vulnerabilities,” he said.
Ramaphosa will need to highlight South Africa’s progress in ridding the country of load shedding, Payi said, warning that “investors will want to see how future energy demand will be met.”