By Tammy O'Reilly

As part of its drive to attract business to Ekurhuleni, the metro council has convened a major summit involving a cross section of society, including business, labour, civil organisations and government to discuss ways of attracting and retaining business.

About 500 delegates are participating in the two-day summit taking place at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park.

The summit follows a call made in March 2006 by President Thabo Mbeki for all municipalities to draft a growth and development strategy that focuses on investment, job creation, creating sustainable communities and promoting levels of growth.

Ekurhuleni is the fourth largest municipality in Gauteng and is a well-established base for manufacturing industry and commerce. Despite this, about 40 percent of its 3 million population are unemployed and about 28 percent live in poverty. There are also 112 informal settlements, the highest in the province.

At the summit, the Metro's five-year Integrated Development Plan will also be presented, discussions will be held and new programmes will be proposed to address the key challenges facing Ekurhuleni.

Executive mayor Duma Nkosi will deliver the opening address, and premier Mbhazima Shilowa and Deputy president Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will also address the delegates.

The first day will also see commissions on issues relating to sustainable human settlement, integrated transport planning and services, investment and development, job creation and economic development.

Day two will comprise a reportback on the discussions in the caucus groups by the members of mayoral committee who head up the corresponding portfolios.

At the end of the conference, the Ekurhuleni Metro Municiplaity will consider incorporating input received from the four commissions into the long-term GDS 2025 document.

Source: Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality