Financial and Business Services

The local services industry is the fastest growing sector in the economy

Community and social services sectors, some of which are provided by government and others initiated by communities and NGOs also fall within this category. In addition, these have been the sectors in which significant job creation has taken place in recent years. Of importance is that many other service activities in our society straddle both the first and second economies.

Financial services

South Africa's excellent financial services sector is supported by a sound regulatory and legal framework. A choice of domestic and foreign institutions, provide assorted services - commercial, retail and merchant banking, mortgage lending, insurance and investment.

ICT

The rapid development of information technology as well as the increased level of sophistication of consumers, rising per capita incomes and the increased demand for services have been driving this shift. This sector has also become an important employer and attracts large amounts of foreign direct investment.

KwaZulu-Natal is striving to be a vibrant, innovative, fully inclusive knowledge society with a strong ICT and electronics brand that speaks of innovative approaches to local and global challenges. 

SmartXchange

Based in Durban, SmartXchange is a public private partnership initiative Information and Communications Technologies cluster. The not-for-profit organization was established to promote and support the region's vision to be the technology hub of Africa. It aims are:

• To develop a quality ICT SMME base in KZN (Incubation and SMME support)
• Cluster Development and Promoting the region as an ICT hub of Africa
• ICT Skills Development and
• Supporting initiatives that work to bridge the digital divide http://www.smartxchange.co.za/