The "pragmatic approach" adopted by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was welcomed on Tuesday by the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci).

It also welcomed the recognition Gorhan's Medium Term Budget Policy Statement gave to the challenges facing the country.

It was particularly pleased with the focus Gordhan had placed on business. This ranged from the necessity for partnerships between the public and private sectors, relaxing exchange control regulations and increased off-shore investment allowances, cutting red tape and reducing the cost of doing business, it said in a statement.

Sacci agreed with the minister that job creation was a major problem and that continued investment in infrastructure would be a major contributor to the solution.

It was "regrettable" that public enterprises such as Telkom and Eskom were not regarded as entities that provided infrastructure.

Government investment in building new power stations as part of its infrastructure development programme would reduce the need for the substantial tariff increases required by Eskom over the next few years and contain the cost of doing business.

Sacci said Gordhan had hinted at the possible introduction of additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit.

"It is sincerely trusted the introduction of any new taxes will be carefully interrogated, and be subjected to a transparent process that will involve all stakeholders before any decisions are made."

The MTBPS clearly spoke to the proposals in the Green Paper on National Strategic Planning recently issued by the presidency for comment.

Sacci hoped the "synergies" between the MTBPS and the Green Paper would be translated into improved service delivery and reduction of expenditure on unnecessary and unproductive government activities.