The Economic Development and Planning Committee held its meeting on, 06 June 2019. The following items were supported and recommended to the Executive Committee for final approval.

 

 

In a quest to create more jobs in the City, the Economic Development and Planning Committee approved a report on the amendments to the Economic Development Incentive Policy (EDIP) which aims to encourage businesses to grow and expand in the City.

 

Dr Ajiv Maharaj, Deputy Head of Policy Strategy, Information and Research in the City’s Economic Development Unit said the policy provides details of the financial incentives offered by the Municipality as well as the associated compliance and administrative procedures relating to the application for, and the uptake of economic incentives. The Policy is an extension of the eThekwini Rates Policy.

 

"The Policy is offered to all investors and small, medium and large companies and businesses located in the City, who intends to expand or upgrade their industrial and commercial activities with a view to increasing their market value and create jobs,” said Maharaj.

 

Several businesses have already made use of the opportunity as their expansion activities would contribute to thousands of jobs being created.

 

Businesses would have to adhere to criteria set out by the policy in order to qualify for the Policy’s rebates.

 

 

EThekwini Municipality in partnership with the African Agri Council will host the Market Access Africa Conference and Exhibition on 5th and 6th August 2019.

 

The conference is aimed at providing a platform for African food and agricultural producers to engage with international traders, aggregators, retailers, buyers, sellers, importers and exporters to exchange best practices, create new business opportunities and explore new avenues to access African and global markets.

 

The goal is to contribute towards unlocking Africa’s agriculture economic potential and global competitiveness.

 

Thulani Nzama, Head of Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit said the conference provides a global meeting place for the entire agri value chain promoting African food and agricultural commodities and providing opportunities to access new markets and impact companies’ bottom lines.

 

“Agriculture and food processing remain the key sectors that will drive job creation in the emerging markets and Africa as a continent. EThekwini Municipality has through its Economic Development Strategy identified food and beverage as one of the key manufacturing subsectors for the municipality with an annual contribution to the Municipal Gross Value Add (GVA) of R30billion per annum,” said Nzama.

 

In the 2016/2017 financial year, the agriculture sector contributed 20 000 jobs in the Municipality and agro-processing contributed a combined 65 000 jobs according to the State of the Economy Report presented to Council.

 

 

In a bid to address energy issues, the eThekwini Municipality’s Energy Office has initiated a strategy to meet the future electrical energy needs of the Municipality.

 

Sbu Ntshalintshali, Manager of Renewable Energy in the Municipality’s Energy Office, presented a report to the Economic Development and Planning committee, requesting approval to proceed with external stakeholder consultation on the Strategic Renewable Energy Roadmap 2030.

 

The aim of the consultation is to find ways of addressing energy challenges that the City is facing.

 

“Council is in a process of transitioning to clean energy. We want to solicit the views of our stakeholders such as big industries, academics, and residents to discuss this draft plan and together find solutions on how to provide clean energy and green our infrastructure,” he said.

Ntshalintshali encouraged residents and businesses to make their input on the report to ensure that the City remained competitive on the market.

 

ENDS

 

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit. For media enquiries contact Msawakhe Mayisela on 060 966 4220