ETHEKWINI Municipality has walked away with top honours at the recent KwaZuluNatal Top Business Awards.  The Municipality, which was recognised for its contribution towards stimulating economic growth in the City won in the Municipal category, beating other municipalities from KZN.

Deputy Mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala and Speaker Logie Naidoo collected the award on behalf of the City.
The award received by the City on 28 July, was preceded by the following citation: "Municipal Sector - This initiative is a partnership between a municipality and the private business sector. It offers a free investor advisory service and acts as a facilitator between businesses and local stakeholders. Currently a large number of catalytic projects are underway and others in the pipeline provide many opportunities for investors."

EThekwini's multibillion rand worth of strategic fl agship projects are set to have a major economic impact on the City and create many job opportunities.  Through various Departments, the Municipality aims to facilitate sustainable investment in the City for the benefi t of all eThekwini residents.

Currently, there are about 25 catalytic projects at different stages of planning and implementation. Catalytic projects are classifi ed as projects that have a huge economic and social impact.  The impact is measured in terms of the number of jobs created, promoting mixeduse development, generate additional rates income in the foreseeable future (three to fi ve years) and must demonstrate partnerships between public and private sectors.

The Municipality's mega projects include the inner city regeneration programme currently underway, the Integrated Rapid Transport System and Cornubia mixed-use development which will comprise 25 000 housing units when completed.  Other high impact City developments include township renewal projects
around Bridge City, Centrum site in the Durban Central Business District (CBD), the Point Waterfront and the interconnecting corridor.

These projects, in partnership with the private sector, will transform eThekwini's landscape and provide residents in the City with an improved quality of life. Also high on the City's agenda is the promotion of
mixed-use development, racial integration and strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Apart from mixed land uses, the developments aim to create better environments through the concept of
walkability, connectivity, convenience, increased density and sustainability.  The R24 billion Cornubia mixed-use human settlements project is envisaged to create about 48 000 permanent jobs and approximately 15 000 construction jobs sustained over a 15 year period. Rates generation will amount to over R300 million per annum. The Cornubia Business Hub is currently under construction as a stand-alone project, comprising retail mall and call centre.

Go!Durban (the IRPTN) is the biggest infrastructural project that the city has ever undertaken with an investment of about R22 billion over 13 years. This is a legacy transport project that will benefit future
generations.

Another exciting project in the pipeline is the Centrum site development which aims to develop a new mixed-use precinct. The objective of the project includes developing new public service buildings such as the City Library and Natural Sciences Museum Municipal Complex and Government Boulevard.  The project will also provide huge opportunities for private investment to develop uses and provide services such as restaurants, offi ces and residential accommodation.

The multi-billion rand Point Waterfront development forms part of the inner city regeneration programme,
which aims to reclaim abandoned and derelict buildings, attract new or innovative investment, plus increase the connectivity and integration of different modes of transport. The project will create 11 500 jobs during construction and over 6000 permanent jobs.

Other high impact projects on the pipeline include the Durban iconic tower, which will be the tallest building in the Southern hemisphere.  It will boost the City's rates base by at least R100 million annually and create 5000 jobs.

The Municipality is currently investigating the best use for the Virginia airport site that would generate maximum development impact for the City, businesses in the area and communities who may need to utilise the site in the future.

Warwick Triangle is a major transport and business node, bringing thousands of commuters in and out of the City each day. This is the primary reason why hundreds of informal traders are found in this part of the
City. The Warwick precinct comprises residential apartments, formal business and informal traders. The
Municipality has identifi ed the area as one of the fastest growing economic hubs in the CBD and wants to ensure that it is sustainable and attractive to investors. The R1.3 billion Warwick Triangle re-development project aims to address the imbalances of the past through integrating the informal economy into the City's Urban Renewal plans. The project will create over 2000 jobs.

All these catalytic projects, and more, fall within the larger Long Term Development Framework of
the City.

Through the new One Stop Shop, situated at the former Lion Match business park in Umngeni Road, the
City aims to improve the regulatory framework within which it operates. Municipal Offi cials at the Ones stop Shop will provide advisory services and support for new and existing investors so that they can easily identify opportunities and best locations for such. The City's intervention is aimed at cutting through some of the red tape that limits business development has been welcomed by captains of industry and the business community.

This is expected to work in a complementary fashion with Durban Investment Promotion who will continue to deliver an increasing fl ow of Foreign Direct Investment into the City.

The ultimate goal is to promote eThekwini Municipality as an investment destination of choice, retain existing businesses in the City and attract new businesses. The City remains committed to improving the investment and economic development environment, in partnership with national and provincial government as well as business sectors.