Page 25 - KZN Top Business Portfolio 2018

One Stop Shop Transformation Programme in 2018, focussing on
our Operation Vula, which includes inter alia the
In the 2017 State of the Province Address the Province Radical Agrarian Socio-Economic Transformation
committed to improve the ease of doing business in (RASET) and the Black Industrialist Programmes.”
KwaZulu-Natal. As a result, the Invest SA KwaZulu-
Natal One Stop Shop was officially opened by former Manufacturing
President, Mr J G Zuma on 18 November 2017.
Mchunu commented that the manufacturing sector
“This initiative, managed by Trade and Investment is the bedrock of the Province’s economy. He added
KZN, was established through our engagement with that the sector had the potential of becoming an
our business partners and the KwaZulu-Natal Growth African hub for local beneficiation and the export of
Coalition. This facility offers prospective investors value-added products. This sector also has potential
a wide range of support services such as company to attract investors.
registration, tax clearance, visa applications and all
business registration requirements.” “We are encouraged by the progress our Special
Economic Zones (SEZs) have made at Dube TradePort
Key Drivers and Sectors of the Economy and in Richards Bay, and we will expand this model
to other industrial hubs throughout the Province.
Mchunu pointed out the provincial government remains This requires a collective effort to ensure that we
committed to radical economic transformation to have appropriately zoned and serviced land readily
ensure inclusive, expanded and sustained economic available to attract new investors in the manufac-
output creates more jobs. He added that there would be turing sector.”
a focus on the key drivers and sectors of the economy
of KwaZulu-Natal and increasing access to new entrants Speaking of the Blue- and Green Economies, he said
in a manner that will create employment. These key that these would be supported to ensure that the gains
sectors are agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. that have made continue to be built on.
Agriculture “The fact that the boatbuilding industry is now partly
revived in the Port of Durban and that our Tugs are
The agricultural sector has gone through challenging
times with unintended consequences of poor land
reform implementation and the recent drought.
However, Mchunu reported that prospects in this
sector were looking much better.
The Agriparks Programme, which is being rolled
out in collaboration with the Department of Rural
Development and Land Reform is aimed at facilitating
the participation of black people in production and
agro-processing value chains beyond the farm gate.
The agriculture sector will be strengthened by
expanding its linkages with the manufacturing sector
and refocussing the Agri-Village Programme. An
Agricultural Summit is planned in 2018 to involve all
stakeholders in this sector to identify challenges and
seek solutions on how best to support emerging
farmers to use their land productively, growing a
shared economy, creating employment and securing
food for the nation.
Mchunu added that in order to counter competition and
high entry barriers for new entrants to the mainstream
economy a “radical” intervention from government to
open up new opportunities without stifling the growth
is required.
He said, “We are confident that we will achieve
positive outcomes through the Radical Economic

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