Focus on Local Economic Development in KwaZulu Natal

By Marlan Padayachee, Speechwriter to the Deputy Mayor of the City of Durban, Logie Naidoo

Opening and Welcome Address by Councillor Logie Naidoo, Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Economic and Development Committee of the eThekwini Municipality City of Durban, South Africa, at the Annual LED Conference at the International Convention Centre, Durban, on Tuesday, 17 March 2009 at 08h30.

Thank You, Programme Director, Ms Carol Coetzee, Head of the Department of Economic Development.

Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests and Honorary Guests and Stakeholders.

I am pleased as Chairperson of the eThekwini Municipality’s Economic and Development Committee and the city’s Deputy Mayor to bid all of you a warm welcome to the Annual Local Economic Development Conference piloted by the KwaZulu-Natal’s Finance and Local Development Department.

May I take this opportunity of thanking our counterparts in the provincial government for choosing Durban as the convention city for this all-important conference, taking place at a time when world markets are jittery and there are growing concerns about our own local economy and its strategic development in this region.

I am sure that after last night’s opening banquet and social and business networking at this venue that the local organising committee and delegates are inspired to ring in the changes and give new meaning to the conference theme, “Together, Accelerating Local Economic Development”.

It is also encouraging for our local economy when a big-brand bank like Nedbank signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Economic Development that demonstrates another chapter to government’s enterprising strategy of locking in the private sector in our public sector initiatives and projects.

As you may agree, government alone cannot overcome the post-apartheid challenges of service delivery and the realigning of the socio-economic landscapes that contradict our city, regions and country.

The African National Congress, for its part as the majority party in the eThekwini Municipality, fully supports the cut and thrust of our election manifesto: “Working Together, We Can Do More.”

On that note, it is with a sense of pride and pleasure that I officially welcome one and all to Durban and wish you all the best in your deliberations, debates, dissents and discourse, as you collectively contribute towards making a difference to the economic landscape.

I am therefore privileged and honoured to recognise and acknowledge the presence, participation and the leadership of the Honourable Premier of KwaZulu Natal, Comrade Doctor Sibusiso Joel Ndebele.

It is my pleasure to welcome and acknowledge the Honourable MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Comrade Doctor Zweli Mkhize.

I wish to welcome and recognise the contribution of the following role-players.

The Chief Director: Provincial & Local Government Infrastructure, National Treasury. Mrs Malijeng Ngqaleni.

The HOD for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ms Gabi Gumbi-Masilela.

Mr Jabulane Moremi of the Development Bank of South Africa’s LED Capacity Development Programme.

Mr Sihle Mkhize, General Manager: Economic Planning, DED

Dr L. P. Mondi, Chief Economist & Divisional Executive: Professional Services, IDC.

Ms Astrid Ludin of Finmark Trust

Mr N Dlamini of Save Act,

Mr Frikkie Brooks, General Manager: Development Planning of the Department of Local Government.

The HOD of for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ms Gabi Gumbi-Masilela

Ms Gabriele Trah of GTZ.

I also welcome all my colleagues, the District Mayors and Municipal Managers and Chief Financial Officers and as well the Business Leaders.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Today’s conference, headlined by the relevance and timing of “Together, Accelerating Local Economic Development” should provide a perfect scenario for our pioneering government leaders, notably Dr Ndebele and Dr Mkhize, and our social and economic experts to provide a blueprint that will navigate this region into economic road map that will benefit our impoverished communities from the urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

I stand before you with a sense of optimism, despite the world credit crunch and looming job losses that presenters, participants and delegates will work as a team in a collective effort to provide us with economic solutions for a changing economic landscape.

The challenges and complexities are indeed onerous, but 15 years later, we have to continue our unique public-private sector partnership to ensure that we not only accelerate the local economy, but we accelerate service delivery to the millions of voters, constituencies and communities who believe that there is a “Better Life for All” – but the question is – How Soon?

Therefore, this Local Economic Development conference is ideally positioned to map out the kind of economic initiatives and imperatives that will begin to spell new hope for all our stakeholders.

I am confident that the April 22 election will provide the necessary stimulus for the new government leadership to pin-point the socio-economic priorities that will alter the present landscape of joblessness, poverty, homelessness, the perceived slowdown in the black economic empowerment arena, particularly for emerging entrepreneurs and the reluctance on the part of big business to provide opportunities and skills development training for previously disadvantaged people.

Now is the time, ladies and gentlemen, for the tripartite alliance of government, labour and the community to work together and make things happen to identify economic growth, create jobs, fast-track rural development and alleviate poverty.

Working Together, We Can Do More.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the eThekwini Municipality has made the economic development and growth of small, medium-sized and microenterprises its strong focal point in the past ten years.

Annually, the city’s Business Support Unit contributes R18-million of Durban’s R25-million budget towards stimulating the SMMEs through our yearly Small Business Fair that started with 40 SMMES.

Today, almost 350 SMMES participate in the Small Business Fair.

That’s not all: an average of 3 000 people supported the fair last year.

The fair provides a perfect platform for SMMEs, where emerging businesses look for opportunities for joint ventures for the purpose of business growth.
This, in turn, creates massive job opportunities for locals.
Our political commitment ensures that the municipality, within the city’s 2020 Vision, creates a viable and vibrant economic platform for our ‘Second Economy’ – represented largely by the SMMEs – to make headway in the current economic tidal wave.

Ten years later, the city continues to provide opportunities for SMMES – including disabled business people - to gain access to markets and to provide them with the necessary training and business networking opportunities both on a local and international level.
I am optimistic that despite the credit crunch and difficulties experienced in the local economy, this city-wide stimulus will accelerate the economic growth of black economic empowerment and SMMES will continue to be the lifeblood of our local economy as many of them strives to aspire for mainstream of the first economy.
Finally, the eThekwini Municipality salutes the MEC for Finance and Economic Development and his team at the department for pulling together this conference.
May today’s deliberations point us in the direction of economic recovery, progress and growth, and as a city government, the municipality will continue to play a powerful role in ensuring that our service delivery mechanism is in top gear to meet the aspirations and ambitions of so many people who are waiting to board the economic express to help government realise the dream of a “Better Life for All.”
These economic solutions and challenges can emerge from this conference and by “Working Together, We Can Do More.”
My best wishes to all the participants for a fruitful conference.
And remember that the accent is on acceleration.
I Thank You.
Speech researched and written for the Mayor’s Office, eThekwini Municipality 16 March 2009 by GreenGold Africa Communications: greengold@telkomsa.net/ www.greengoldcom.com/ 083 796 1762/ 083 797 1762 _______