Kimberley: Northern Cape Premier, Dr. Zamani Saul, announced that investors, public institutions, business leaders, and other economic stakeholders will meet in the province over the next two days to discuss strategies for increasing investment, expanding opportunities, and creating jobs. "We look forward to... presenting the Northern Cape as a province of real potential and real partnerships," Saul stated.
According to South African Government News Agency, the announcement was made during the launch of the National Economic Fund (NEF) and InvestSA's One Stop Shop in Kimberley on Monday. The One Stop Shop initiative aims to reduce regulatory hurdles and improve the ease of doing business for both domestic and foreign investors. Its customer interface serves as the primary gateway for interaction within South Africa's investment facilitation ecosystem. The initiative ensures broad access and responsive engagement through various channels, including foreign missions, business chambers, the InvestSA website, social media, and targeted investment events.
The One Stop Shop in the Northern Cape is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), the Northern Cape's Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Provincial Investment Promotion Agency, and other governmental and business entities. Premier Saul emphasized that this demonstrates the kind of economy and state support the province is striving to build.
Saul further highlighted that addressing unemployment, poverty, and inequality requires expanding the economic base. The province aims to grow a modern, successful economy that creates jobs, broadens participation, and strengthens local enterprises. The Northern Cape will showcase enterprises in sectors like infrastructure, manufacturing, hospitality, agro-processing, and environmental services, which contribute to productive activity.
The partnership between the National Empowerment Fund and the Northern Cape's economic department focuses on practical support for promising enterprises, making the province more efficient and investor-friendly. The initiative signifies that the government aims to be part of the solution, not the problem, for businesses and investors.
Mziwabantu Dayimani, CEO of the NEF, expressed support for entrepreneurs, particularly those overlooked by traditional banks, emphasizing the opportunities available to the people of the Northern Cape. Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau is scheduled to address the conference on Tuesday, focusing on industrialization and the future of South Africa's economy.