He said Ekurhuleni’s economy has taken a knock over the years and that the unemployment rate is high.
“With our globally competitive environment wherein the economy of Ekurhuleni operates in view of its manufacturing capability which generates high-value exports and the Aerotropolis programme which requires large-scale investments, the metro cannot afford to be oblivious to the reality that confronts its regional economy and citizens.
“Ekurhuleni’s economy has to confront more socioeconomic challenges which are attributed to several internal and external factors such as the global economic meltdown, skills shortages and unemployment,” said Clr Gungubele.
He said the mayoral committee recently processed the investment and development facilitation strategic framework and the strategic land parcels programme.
“During the 2011 state of the city address, we made a commitment to change our relationship with the private sector in order to leverage their developmental capability on commercial basis.
“We have since started a process to conceptualise the investment and development facilitation strategic framework and the strategic land parcels programme, in order to release strategic land parcels to private sector developers,” he said.
He said these interventions will unlock public and private sector investments into strategic, affluent, underdeveloped and marginalised areas as well as fast-track investment and development decisions in order to unlock and leverage strategic municipal assets.
Clr Gungubele said next month the metro will launch the Ekurhuleni Investment Centre where the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Aerotropolis Project office will be based in Kempton Park.
