Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, says over the next two days, investors, public institutions, business leaders, and other economic role players will gather in the province to deliberate on how they can deepen investment, expand opportunity and create jobs for people
“We look forward to … presenting the Northern Cape as a province of real potential and real partnerships,” Saul said.
Speaking at the launch of the National Economic Fund (NEF) and InvestSA’s One Stop Shop in Kimberley on Monday, Saul said the One Stop Shop forms part of South Africa’s efforts to reduce regulatory red tape and improve the “ease of doing business” for domestic and foreign investors.
Its customer interface serves as the primary gateway through which investors and stakeholders engage with South Africa’s investment facilitation ecosystem.
It is designed to ensure broad, accessible and responsive engagement through multiple channels, including South African foreign missions, foreign missions based in South Africa, business chambers, the InvestSA website, social media platforms, direct marketing emails, newsletters, surveys, and targeted domestic and international investment events.
As in other provinces, the One Stop Shop facility in the Northern Cape is a collaboration between the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), Northern Cape’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Provincial Investment Promotion Agency, other national, provincial and local government departments and agencies, traditional leaders and business associations.
“[It] demonstrates, in practical terms, the kind of economy we are trying to build and the kind of state support required to make that possible,” said the Premier.
Saul said no province can seriously confront the persistent triple challenges of unemployment poverty and inequality without expanding its economic base.
“That is why we committed ourselves to the vision of building a modern, growing and successful province. At the centre of that vision is a clear task to grow the Northern Cape economy in a way that creates jobs, broadens economic participation, and strengthens local enterprise.”
He said the province would showcase enterprises that are already contributing to productive activity. These projects are active in infrastructure and construction, manufacturing and industrial supply, hospitality and tourism, student accommodation, agro-processing, the township economy activity, and environmental and wildlife services.
“In many communities, small businesses are the first point of economic activity. They create jobs close to where people live, circulate income locally and open space for new entrants into the economy. These are the businesses that give practical meaning to transformation because they place ownership, initiative and opportunity in more hands,” he said.
The partnership between the National Empowerment Fund and the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism combines national and provincial efforts in a way that gives practical support to enterprises with potential.
“Creating a single point of entry for investor support and regulatory facilitation makes the province more efficient, responsive, and investor-friendly. In simple terms, it says to businesspeople and investors that the government must not become part of the problem – government must become part of the solution,” the Premier said.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Economic Fund (NEF) Mziwabantu Dayimani said: “We are supporting entrepreneurs – even those who were neglected by the banks – through these partnerships. We want the people of the Northern Cape to take up the opportunities presented to them,” he said.
The Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau will address the conference on Tuesday on “Industrialisation and the future of the South African economy”. – SAnews.gov.za
