LAUNCH OF THE TSHWANE BUSINESS WEEK BY THE
EXECUTIVE MAYOR, FATHER SMANGALISO MKHATSHWA
"Building on our commitment of becoming the leading international African capital of excellence that empowers its community to prosper in a safe and healthy environment, we have initiated a major local economic development initiative, namely the Tshwane Business Week.
I am proud to say that this business week is the first of its kind - not only in Tshwane but also in Southern Africa.
The decision to present the Tshwane Business Week can be seen as a direct translation of the strategic directives contained in the Constitution legislation related to local government. It is, furthermore, in line with the stated objectives of NEPAD and the African Union to eradicate poverty and enhance development on the African continent. As a city and a nation, we are completely aligned to the shared vision, as is espoused by the African Renaissance and NEPAD, of rebuilding the African continent.
This partnership initiative will be held next week here at the Tshwabac Show Grounds. It was initiated by the Local Economic Development Division of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and includes a conference on economic development at regional and metropolitan level, a business exhibition, and a developmental programme for entrepreneurs and the creation of a platform for regional networking opportunities.
This business week will create an opportunity for all involved to network and to share economic development experiences. The Tshwane Business Week will become an annual event and as such presents an opportunity for the business world to make a valuable contribution to the Municipality's local economic development strategic framework.
During the Business Indaba in 2001, it became apparent that the Municipality needed to establish a public-private partnership to collectively develop and implement a local economic/enterprise development strategy for the city. As a point of departure, the Local Economic Development Division developed a Strategic Framework for Local Economic Development, which was approved by the Council in May 2002. Further consultations have since taken place within the city with various stakeholders.
The Tshwane Business week will create a forum where the economic developers of local authorities in the 14 SADC countries can meet with the SADC secretariat, South African national and provincial government ministries, departments, private sector organisations and global strategic economic development partners.
The conference that will take place next week is a multi-sectoral conference. A range of public and private sector stakeholder institutions will be consulted on the various economic development issues addressed in the Municipality's Strategic Framework in order to further refine the strategy. The conference is the first step in obtaining multi-stakeholder support for the strategy and in developing an implementation programme of action for the City of Tshwane for the next five years.
The conference also includes an exhibition to market Tshwane products and services, as well as opportunities to empower local entrepreneurs through a series of seminars, training sessions and business networking meetings. Tshwane has come a long way on our road of becoming a city of notable economic development. We are a capital at work and with the support and commitment of our strategic business partners; Tshwane as a city is on track.
For the next week, Tshwane is undoubtedly the place to be - not only is the Business Week being held but also the Southern African Democratic Community's Multi Cultural Festival.
Our city will truly live up to its vision as African Capital when our visitors from the Southern African Democratic Community assemble here in Tshwane next week."
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Presentation for Seminar
