Page 4 - KZN Business Sense- 7.6

INVEST DURBAN AND BUY LOCAL

– INVEST LOCAL

ith the South people. Over one year into this leisure options and is located Other flagship projects include eThekwini’s Mayor has
African and global pandemic, I am proud to confirm immediately adjacent to the the GO!Durban Transport observed, “the wealth of
Weconomy showing we have been doing just that. I development of a new cruise Oriented Development system, KwaZulu-Natal is often
early signs of some recovery therefore applaud all efforts by line terminal in the harbour, regarded as a great enabler of consumed or exported in its raw
following 2020’s devastating my teams, and those in business backing onto the Waterfront, transport and trade. This includes or intermediate state. However,
economic slump, eThekwini plus community structures who dovetailing well with the the CBD’s Centrum Precinct, much more could be done to add
Metro’s team at Invest Durban have all pulled together to make Waterfront precinct,” which aims to expand business value through further localised
has ramped up their vigorous the differences we now see.” He further stressed that work in the node between the Durban investment and processing. That
drive to improve Durban’s The thrust of Invest Durban in was being undertaken to International Convention is what our various industrial and
positioning as one of Africa’s this particular campaign is to optimise the growth and Centre, a related hotel, library, project partnerships are focussing
prime business destinations and improve investor confidence in operations of not just particular Council Chambers and the on,” he said.
to improve investor confidence the City, position the City as a economic sectors and catalytic re-development of nearby Gugu Durban’s priority investment
in the City. This drive being pro-active business destination; projects, but also in key nodes Dlamini Park. Further major sectors include automotive
an addition to the ‘Buy Local one with a great work-life such as CBD urban renewal investment opportunities vest in and allied industries, logistics
– Invest Local’ myriad support balance, plus access to a host and building upgrades, tourism the massive 1 300ha Cornubia and logistics management,
being given to Durban’s existing of identified catalytic projects attractions and events, beachfront mixed use development north of ICT and BPS, agri-processing,
businesses. Durban enjoys many across multiple sectors. This maintenance, and township Durban, a partnership between life sciences - inclusive of
investment opportunities, and via will in turn lead to additional nodal upgrades. These were Tongaat Hulett Developments pharmaceuticals, medical device
eThekwini’s Economic Recovery prospects regarding the confirmed to be done according and various spheres of manufacturing and health
Plan, the Economic Development expansion of formal industrial to a sustainable town planning Government. On Cornubia’s facilities, as well as further
& Planning Cluster has doubled clusters and the development of and environmental framework northern border the Dube tourism asset development.
down on their efforts to engage value chains, from the townships package of approved plans. TradePort Special Economic
and support business in the City, to the ‘high streets’. Zone is a large-scale multi-modal eThekwini Municipality Mayor,
across South Africa, and across As the economy begins to business platform adjacent to Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda confirmed:
the world. eThekwini Municipality’s mayor reopen, Invest Durban’s goal King Shaka International “The prospects for investment
further commented that Durban is to robustly bring new levels Airport and in the heart of an in these priority sectors is truly
Invest Durban is a Unit has been working hard on a of investment to Durban from vast and encompasses tourism
within that Cluster of the number of large-scale projects, across South Africa and the emergent aerotropolis. business opportunities and,
eThekwini Municipality, and which have the potential to make world. As Durban’s ‘First Stop Underpinning these property crucially, the emergent oceans’
works in partnership between a significant regional impact. Shop’, they are ideally positioned investments, there is further economy as well. In essence,
the public and private sectors to introduce, support and co-operation between the Durban – with its strategic
to stimulate, plus facilitate “Our catalytic projects have facilitate investment into the City public and private sectors via coastal location, excellent
investment within the Durban been selected and accelerated and its surrounds. Invest Durban formalised development of climate, ample land availability,
metropolis. It is geared to for their scale in terms collaborates closely with fellow industrial cluster initiatives, the busiest seaport in Southern
delivering world-class investor of employment creation, eThekwini Units and other like- and township business support. Africa and an enviable life-style
support services, inclusive of investment value and potential minded organisations, such as the These all aim to draw together – is an exceptional travel, trade
investment promotion and for revenue generation.” Department of Trade & Industry, experience and expertise and investment destination. A
marketing, foreign investment He cited the Point Waterfront including Invest SA, TIKZN, the from commerce and industry, destination we are taking to the
identification, attraction and as a catalytic project example, various chambers of commerce, community and labour rest of South Africa, Africa and
facilitation, existing investment indicating that projections point the KZN Growth Coalition and organisations, Government, the world, via this new airport
after-care and expansion, plus to a potential investment value several State-owned enterprises, and academia. marketing campaign.” 
investment advocacy to improve at R40 billion and the number such as Dube TradePort, Exciting new opportunities
the business environment. of permanent employment Transnet, and others. may be found within these For more information, please contact:
opportunities to be created as Physical Address: 41 Margaret Mncadi
Commenting on Invest Mayor Kaunda further innovative business and Avenue, 11th Floor, Durban, 4001
Durban’s expanded investment some 6 750. confirmed, “collectively, investment approaches. Tel: +27 (0)31 311 4227
marketing initiative, most “This is an ambitious plan, we have one single-minded Current industrial cluster E-mail: invest@durban.gov.za
recently at the main airports, with development to date mission, which is to put Durban, programmes include the KZN Website: www.invest.durban
eThekwini Municipality Mayor, linking the city’s beach KwaZulu-Natal firmly on the Clothing and Textile Cluster, www.durban.gov.za
Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda, said, “As promenade and Durban national and international Durban Automotive Cluster,
one of the major metropolitan harbour. The 55ha site, which investment agendas, and to Durban Chemical Cluster,
cities in South Africa, we knew has already attracted significant vigorously promote our region eThekwini Maritime Cluster,
we had to react quickly, decisively, investment, offers a property and her projects as premium KZN Furniture Incubator, plus
and impactfully to support our use mix of office space, retail investment destinations: ripe the expanding Agri-Business
businesses, the economy, and our shops, residential dwellings and with opportunity,” development programme.

4