ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY AFRICA PROGRAMME:BRICS Business Forum Dr. Zweli Mkhize, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal; and MEC Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu RSS ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY AFRICA PROGRAMME2013-05-16
The eThekwini Municipality, under the leadership of the Mayor, Cllr James Nxumalo, is fast making its presence felt on the African Continent.
In the past year it has signed co-operation agreements with the cities of Libreville and Mombasa. It has hosted strategic delegations from the city of Luanda (Angola), Khartoum (Sudan) and Kampala (Uganda). The agreements and engagements between the cities have focused on the following:
The challenges faced by cities across the continent are virtually the same and it is through this type of co-operation that cities are able to share their best practices, so as to improve and better the lives of the citizens.
The City of Durban has been host to many high profile delegations from the continent attending various events hosted by both the Provincial and National Government. The 5th BRICS Summit, with a special focus on the African Agenda proved to be a huge success amongst delegates. The BRICS conference
elevated opportunities for infrastructural development, investment and trade. These opportunities were presented to local business people eager to do business on the continent. The city of Durban, through its Africa Desk, has coordinated many business missions to sister cities and currently have a Durban-based business consortium doing construction work in Libreville, Gabon and Port Harcourt in Nigeria.
The recent visit by the Governor of Khartoum State in Sudan and his high level delegation of politicians and officials also offered an opportunity to institutions like the Chamber of Commerce and Trade and
Investments to look at future trade and business missions to Sudan. The Principals agreed to look at a co-operation agreement between the two provinces.
The city of Durban is also working with the city of Bulawayo to reconstruct and develop municipal infrastructure, particularly water and sanitation. These initiatives have created opportunities for civil engineering companies to expand their business on the continent.
A team of 23 engineers from Nigeria spent a three-month learning exchange programme with eThekwini municipal engineers. This exchange lead to Durban-based companies gaining access to contracts in
Nigeria for large civil engineering projects.
Durban is also working on projects with the city of Maputo in Mozambique in the fields of trade, investment, coastal and port development and waste management, as well as with UNESCO in a bid to embark on a municipal campaign to eradicate xenophobia and other forms of discrimination that impede inter-African dialogue and economic development.
The city of Durban continues to make inroads into the continent and plans, in the near future, to launch a Maritime Forum for Port Cities in Africa. Durban is an active member of the Indian Ocean Port Cities
Network. Through this network Durban has successfully secured the World Ports Cities Conference scheduled to take place at the ICC in September 2014.
The city enjoys a strategic partnership with the Office of the Premier, Dr Z Mkhize, MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Trade and Investment. KwaZulu-Natal Tourism is also developing and implementing developmental programmes with its African sister cities and regional partners.
|
ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY AFRICA PROGRAMME
Copyright © 2024 KwaZulu-Natal Top Business
