Government has welcomed the latest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rating, as it indicates that South Africa’s strategic partnership with investors form abroad was producing good spin-offs.

This comes after AT Kearney’s 2014 FDI Confidence Index revealed that South Africa had climbed two spots to become the 13th most attractive destination for FDI.

In a statement, Phumla Williams, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) acting CEO, said government was humbled by the rating.

“The report, which cites South Africa as the only country in Africa on the list of top 25 countries, demonstrates that our country’s blueprint on development is yielding results.

“South Africa offers lucrative value and opportunities for international investor partnerships, as the country is uniquely positioned as the gateway into Africa. We also boast a distinctive combination of developed first-world economic infrastructure and an emergent market economy that gives rise to a healthy entrepreneurial and vibrant investment environment,” she said.

Williams also said more companies internationally were finding South Africa as an investment destination of choice and that the country had a fertile business environment and infrastructure in a number of sectors including, finance and telecommunications.

“South Africa has heeded President Jacob Zuma’s call to focus on changing negative perceptions held by foreign investors and thereby attract further investment. Our tax relief incentives, announced in 2011, have also contributed to attracting foreign direct investment.

“The strengthened synergies between government and other strategic stakeholders, like business, are supporting the National Development Plan as it provides policy certainty for investors,” said Williams.

She said the country’s commitment to the Renewable Energy Independent Power Provider Programme has been identified as one of the key drivers of its improved rating on the Index.

The programme has been designed to contribute towards increasing the supply of electricity through renewable energy. It is also aimed at addressing socio-economic and environmentally sustainable growth.

“As we celebrate 20 Years of Freedom, South Africans are encouraged to embrace foreign direct investment and join hands with government’s initiatives that aim to achieve the country’s economic vision. This advancement proves that South Africa is indeed a better place to live in,” Williams said.