Recently , the National Business Initiative for Growth Development and Democracy (NBI) held its annual report back at Sibaya Casino.

The initiative is supported by more than 100 major national companies that collectively contribute millions of Rands to the advancement of the initiative's objectives of societal and democratic development. Among the initiative's focus areas are education and skills, travel and tourism, sustainability and equity.

The programme included a panel presentation and discussion which dealt  with business and sustainability, the political context of business and environmental challenges for business.

Hixonia Nyasulu, Chairman, Sasol Limited stressed the importance of business growth, the responsible use of resources and respect for environment which requires "enlightened self-interest", in order to grow. Companies have to be concerned about their reputations and this will be a growing trend in the future.

Prof Steven Friedman Director, Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Johannesburg suggested that politics matters to business in South Africa. We are increasingly operating in a context where the government's role in sustaining economic growth in the country is escalating. In order for this to be of  worth, government is required to develop a constructive and effective partnership with the major actors in the economy. Government is required to be more accountable to its citizens, which is key to a sustainable future.

Business must also ensure that enters in to dialogue with government as no one has all the answers in the changing economic climate.

Rico Euripidou Research Manager, GroundWork maintained that "development can only be truly sustainable when it optimizes the environment, which in turn makes for perfect business sense!". He added that it was invariably the poor who were negatively affected by environmental degradation, and asked "whether it was fair for business to reap the profits of their business ventures before paying the full price of the environmental cost of that business activity?".

He concluded by suggesting that what was essentially required was "a sustainable population, exercising sustainable levels of consumption (globally and locally), and investing and implementing improved technology and related practices". That way, business, civil society and its future generations may enjoy a win-win situation.

In closing, Mr Parkhurst (NBI's KZN Board Chairman) confirmed that business and government collaborations, together with a President Obama-type "yes we can" attitude, can make a difference. Parkhurst suggested that, as business, we need to:

• Commit to changing those situations and/or practices that we are able to influence directly; and
• Identify opportunities for cross-industrial sharing in order to address those issues which we don't have direct influence over.

This presentation upheld the NBI goal that, through constructive engagement and strategic collective action, the private sector can shape the economic, competitive and social context within which it operates, as well as the sustainability of communities and the natural environment.