City’s push to further grow its economy
JOBURG - In what is expected to be the first in a series of briefing sessions on the city’s future economic outlook and potential, the City of Johannesburg’s Economic Development cluster hosted and engaged international delegates to position Johannesburg as a major and critical player in international trade.
The guests included delegates from the BRICS an acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Members from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries as well as Italy and the United States were among the guests.
The aim of the event was future interactions and to position Johannesburg as a major and critical player in international trade in a bid to further grow its economy and provide a better quality of life for its people. Joburg was represented by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Ruby Mathang, executive director of Economic Development, Ravi Naidoo, and chairperson of the Section 79 committee on economic Development, Willie van der Schyff.
Mathang said, “The City would continue to work towards establishing a strong foothold within SADC and BRICS as a matter of national priority.”
Mathang emphasised the importance of such continued trade within the region. He revealed that for the first time ever, the largest shipments of fresh produce to the Johannesburg Fresh Food Market were coming from Maputo in Mozambique. Mathang also thanked the Russian Federation for its interest in partnering with local companies.
Meanwhile, Naidoo acknowledged the importance of growing strong economic ties with cities in other parts of the world. He said Johannesburg was in the process of finalising a number of city-to-city agreements that it wanted to focus on over the next 18 months to two years.
“The City had already seen a number of investments materialise on the ground following its previous engagements with the international community. The City was looking at ways to capitalise on these investments, particularly in spaces such as information and communications technology, green technology, pharmaceuticals and the financial sector,” said Naidoo.
“Over and above this, Johannesburg will host a major trade mission from the United States in September and will look closely at ways to support this endeavour for the benefit of both South Africa and the US.”
The City also wants to engage international partners that would like to invest in Johannesburg on ways to fast-track zoning applications and access to land for economic purposes. Van der Schyff said Johannesburg had, as far back as 1886, been identified as the potential ‘economic Gibraltar’ of Africa.
“Today I can assure you that under the leadership of our Mayor, Councillor Parks Tau, there is no doubt that that is where we as Johannesburg are headed – but in partnership with yourselves,” he said.
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