The upcoming State of the Nation Address (SoNA) provided a platform for President Jacob Zuma to restore domestic and international business confidence, South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) CEO Neren Rau said on Wednesday.

He emphasised that improved business and investor confidence, which remained strained, was critical for economic growth.

The organisation last week reported that its Business Confidence Index (BCI) improved only marginally from 93 points in December to 94 points in January 2013 – 3.1 points lower than in January 2012.

Ongoing labour protests, intervention in the economy by the State and policy uncertainty weighed heavily on business confidence.

“We hope that the SoNA 2013 is underpinned by themes of promoting business confidence, a reduction in state intervention in the economy and a commitment to greater policy certainty,” Rau stated.

He added that reassurance on South Africa’s economic stability and the management of government expenditure was required.

Further, challenges such as illegal protests – which called for a strong insistance that labour exercise their right to strike in a disciplined and legal manner – and problematic mining legislation, needed to be dealt with.

The organisation also echoed Business Unity South Africa’s call earlier this week for the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) and the government’s infrastructure programmes.

The Presidency earlier confirmed that Zuma's SoNA would focus on the NDP, particularly the progress made in the rapid implementation of the New Growth Path – the economic strategy within the NDP.

“In SoNA 2013, the President will provide an update on all key programmatic areas, especially the five priorities – education, health, creating decent work, the fight against crime, as well as rural development and land reform," the Presidency said in a statement.

Zuma would deliver the SoNA on Thursday evening.