Since I became the United States Ambassador to South Africa in October 2009, I have met truly inspiring South Africans with great ideas almost every day.  I have been very impressed with South Africans’ ability to link abstract knowledge and real-world application. With such talent, it seems natural that this beautiful, vibrant country should become a global innovation hub for the 21st century.

Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan emphasised in his 2010 Budget Speech that “successful developmental states are built not just through public policy and state action, but also through national identity, social cohesion and responsible citizenship – through building social capital that reinforces trust and co-operation, in the place of conflict and fragmentation”.  It is exactly this social capital, which the government seeks to build, that can foster a unique and forward-looking culture of innovation here.

South Africa has great strength in the diversity of its people.  The depth of this diversity provides exciting and challenging possibilities to create a great incubator of social capital, innovation and entrepreneurship.
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