Looking at developing the Newcastle economy
At the meeting, the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) programme in Newcastle was launched and the programme introduced to business owners.
Newcastle Municipality hosted a business breakfast in conjunction with Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) on Wednesday, August 20.
At the meeting, the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) programme in Newcastle was launched and the programme introduced to business owners.
Research indicated that 86 per cent of new jobs were being created by existing businesses, instead of new businesses being attracted to a community. The programme would facilitate an open dialogue between the municipality and local businesses in order to stimulate job creation.
The communication process would see the municipality and businesses working together and see how issues could be overcome in order to ensure businesses kept their doors open and could expand, thereby seeing the town as a whole become more self sustainable.
Ferdi Alberts, Director of Development Planning and Human Settlements from the municipality, said although foreign investment was important, BR&E could stimulate growth in local economic development, business expansion, business development and retention and an increase in creation of employment.
Mayor, Afzul Rehman, welcomed the programme and said the municipality could not and should not forget about the older businesses in town and the municipality was looking forward to working together with the business sector.
“We are now working towards the 2014/2015 budget and business people should be driving the budget,” he said.
Comparing the municipality to a business, Cllr Rehman said the municipality was eager to see other businesses flourish in town.
Donny Pethan, General Manager of TIKZN, explained TIKZN was the official investment and promotion agency of KZN and the organisation could help by opening lines of communication between local businesses and relevant municipalities.
He was also eager to see the province as a whole develop through the programme by helping local businesses to grow.
After the speeches, guests had the opportunity to socialise and network.
