Hatch signs pledge affirming commitment to building South Africa
Hatch’s regional managing director for the Africa, India, and Middle East region, Pierre Olivier, is one of more than 130 leaders of South Africa’s top corporations to have signed a pledge underpinning their collective belief in South Africa, and their determination to assist in realizing its potential.
The pledge is organized by Business for South Africa (B4SA), a platform of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and is aimed at bringing together key South African business leaders to address urgent national challenges and drive economic recovery. B4SA focuses on key priority areas and works in close collaboration with government counterparts to find innovative solutions and create a positive impact for all South Africans.
The pledge states: “As South African business leaders, we firmly believe in the immense potential of our country. We are committed to building it and have come together to address the current challenges with the aim of achieving sustainable, inclusive economic growth. Through strategic partnerships and focused interventions, we have the power to make a significant and positive impact on our nation, creating hope for all South Africans. We are resolutely committed to being a force for good.”
The scale, diversity, and depth of the companies behind this pledge is unprecedented, with an expected increase in the number of companies participating. The companies represented by these CEOs and leadership operate across all sectors of the South African economy, with the values of the listed entities exceeding R11 trillion, employing more than 1.2 million people.
All sectors of society acknowledge and experience the impact of the many crises currently facing South Africa. These include low economic growth, collapsing infrastructure, rampant crime and corruption, and unacceptably high levels of inequality and unemployment.
The CEOs who have signed this pledge are reaffirming their belief in the country’s potential, and their dedication and determination to reversing the current trajectory. Business is committed to using its collective resources and expertise to partner, assist, build, and bolster initiatives aimed at rapidly turning the flywheel and changing our country’s direction.
“Hatch has been present in South Africa since the 1970s, providing crucial support to our clients in the region. We firmly believe in the potential of South Africa and its people, which is why we remain steadfast in our commitment to invest and grow our business here,” shared Olivier. “South Africa’s abundant natural resources position it as a vital player in addressing global challenges like climate change and electrification.”
Hatch is a global engineering, project management, and professional services firm with more 10,000 employees in 65 offices around the world. More than 800 Hatch experts call the company’s South African offices home. Hatch supports the mining, infrastructure, and energy companies in the region.
Beyond the company’s commitment to continue to grow its business in the region, Hatch remains invested in the promotion of the well-being of society through its support of academic programs such as the African Academy and the Minerals Education Trust Fund, among others. These programs are focused on encouraging more youth—especially those from diverse and underrepresented groups—into careers in STEM. Institutions like the African Academy are also essential to creating positive and lasting impacts in our communities by striving to alleviate unemployment and to contribute to reducing the skills shortage in the technical sectors.
“We are committed to helping South Africa reach its great potential. Through our work, we are helping our clients bring to market the natural resources so greatly needed within South Africa and around the world, while also helping to build the infrastructure and power required to maintain a well-functioning society,” shared Olivier. “We believe in the spirit of South Africans and have confidence that collectively we can help to realize long-term prosperity for this country and its people.”
Cas Coovadia, BUSA CEO, expressed the importance of the collaboration and said: “The backdrop against which this pledge has been made is clear. South Africa currently faces many obstacles that have hindered our path to prosperity and perpetuated a narrative of decline and hopelessness. Business has consistently said that long-term meaningful investment is a precursor to sustainable, inclusive growth which in turn is fundamental to addressing socioeconomic improvement”.
About Hatch: Whatever our clients envision, our teams can design and build. With decades of business and technical experience in the energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors, we know your business and understand that your challenges are changing rapidly. We respond quickly with solutions that are smarter, more efficient and innovative. We draw upon our 10,000 staff with experience in over 150 countries to challenge the status quo and create positive change for our clients, our employees, and the communities we serve.
Find out more on www.hatch.com
About Business Unity South Africa (BUSA): BUSA is a business organisation that represents the interests of South African business, covering major sectors and industrial groupings. BUSA aims to create an enabling environment for business success and economic growth in the country by engaging with government, labour unions, and civil society.
About Business for South Africa (B4SA): B4SA is a BUSA platform, bringing together key South African business leaders to address urgent national challenges and drive economic recovery. B4SA focuses on key priority areas and works in close collaboration with government counterparts to find innovative solutions and create a positive impact for all South Africans.
The +115 CEOs that have signed this pledge, represent the following companies:
