S. Africa says ready for World Economic Forum meeting in Africa

South Africa is ready for the 25th World Economic Forum meeting on Africa (WEF Africa) taking place on June 3-5 in Cape Town, the government said on Tuesday.

This year's meeting, under the theme "Then and Now: Reimagining Africa's Future", is expected to be attended by more than 1,000 leaders from business, politics, academics, civil society and international and local media, acting cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams said.

With the program built upon the three pillars of enabling markets, marshalling resources and inspiring creativity, this year' s meeting will also feature a high-level session on critical subjects aimed at showcasing opportunities in Africa, which is one of the fastest growing regions in the world.

Alongside the meeting, the Grow Africa Investment Forum, which runs from June 2 to June 4, will bring together leaders engaged in the Forum-led Grow Africa food security initiative. Another high- level summit will focus on the mobilizing financing for cross- border infrastructure.

"South Africa values the importance and contribution that the World Economic Forum provides in creating economic opportunities for growth and development in the country and the continent," Williams said.

"The WEF on Africa will also showcase that South Africa is open to business," she added.

South African President Jacob Zuma will lead a high-powered delegation to the meeting. He will make a keynote speech on June 4.

South Africa has hosted several meetings of WEF Africa. The first meeting took place in 1990, the year the country's first democratically-elected President Nelson Mandela was released from prison. Endi