De Beers chairman Nicky Oppenheimer addressed the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington D.C. on June 9, and discussed the positive role business can play in enhancing sustainable development in Africa.
 
He said that Africa must embrace a philosophy based on “growth and competitiveness,” and called on government and industry to work together to insure the continent’s future.
 
“I believe that a key factor for the future will be the role played by the private sector on the one hand and how Governments set the playing field for investment on the other,” Oppenheimer said. “This latter point requires strong political leadership—and as an aside how blessed we were in South Africa that at a time of great crisis as democracy came to my country we had Nelson Mandela to provide the necessary leadership.”
 
A transcript of his speech with follow-up questions can be seen here.

JCK