Friday's announcement also comes a week after Suntech said it was cutting about 800 jobs and suspending the hiring of a further 2, 000 new staff due to the difficult economic environment.

FORBES: Solar module maker has better-than-expected sales in Q4.

South Africa's 2010 Local Organising Committee chairman Danny Jordaan has said he sees the competition as nothing less than a chance to "construct a new economic and business environment for the continent", using South Africa as a catalyst.

BBC: South Africa greets Soccerex business

The significance of the new working groups, which cover public services, economic competitiveness, security, the environment and energy, the role of the state and foreign policy, is twofold.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

We can do it if together we support a new model for economic development, in harmony with the environment.

WHITEHOUSE: Official Arrival of President Calder��n

Despite the difficult economic environment for retailers (See: "Retailers Crawl Into New Year"), the company said low prices and strong international sales drove the quarter's results.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Now think of the possibilities, at this remarkable moment in time--as we climb out of the global downturn, enter the so-called "new normal" set of economic conditions, adapt to a business and competitive environment of accelerating complexity and stand witness to a historic explosion of information.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The environment, transport and local-government ministries were joined by economic liberals keen to accelerate new housing developments, roads and airport runways.

ECONOMIST: The reshuffle