The former South African president said that although the global economy had benefited China and India, it had not been of any help to Africa and the underdeveloped countries.
‘They are struggling with problems that the free world has forgotten about,’ he said.
Mr De Klerk, who presided over the negotiations that led to the ending of apartheid and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1993 with Nelson Mandela, was sharing the platform with Jersey’s Chief Minister, Senator Frank Walker, former UK Chancellor Kenneth Clarke, MP, and The Times economist Anatole Kaletsky.
Four hundred invited guests attended the conference, organised by investment firm Ashburton, many from Jersey’s financial services industry but also including politicians, the Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache, and a group of sixth-form students.
The theme of the conference focused on economic globalisation and free trade and whether democratic politics were distorting the global market.
