Pretoria — The forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) will offer South Africa an opportunity to showcase itself to the rest of the world, says Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Mohammed Valli Moosa.

Addressing business leaders in Sandton, north of Johannesburg, yesterday, Minister Moosa said he was confident that a concrete plan of action would emerge from the summit.

'The World summit is a unique opportunity for us as a country to demonstrate our ability to deliver an event of this scale to prove that our country is a place where people can invest with confidence.'

He said the new deal on sustainable development sought at the summit should be based on solid commitments from the developed and developing countries, addressing both finance and trade issues.

'The new deal would be in line with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) which is the basis for sustainable development in Africa.'

Nepad is a pledge by African leaders based on a common vision and a firm and shared conviction that they have a pressing duty to eradicate poverty and to place their countries both individually and collectively on a path of sustainable growth and development.

Nepad is spearheaded President Thabo Mbeki and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and was launched on 13 March 2002.