City is open for business, mayor tells captains of industry
The City launched a One Stop Shop to improve the regulatory framework within which it operates and the facilitation of development and investment in eThekwini.
TO reignite economic growth and improve ease of doing business in eThekwini Municipality, the city has launched its One Stop Shop for developers and investors.
Through the One Stop Shop, which is situated in Umgeni Road, the city aims to improve the regulatory framework within which it operates and the facilitation of development and investment in eThekwini.
During the launch, eThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo gave investors the assurance that the city is open for business.
Addressing captains of industry and Chief Executive Officers representing various big businesses, Nxumalo said eThekwini was earmarked for massive growth from several catalytic projects over the next few years which will transform the economic landscape.
“These high impact projects will promote job creation and create opportunities for private sector investment while cementing Durban’s economic status globally. Catalytic projects are not only the backbone for our city’s economy, but will assist us address historical imbalances associated with separatist planning,” said Nxumalo.
Commending the City for its efforts to improve the ease of doing business in eThekwini for developers and investors, MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, said it was important to put systems in place that will centralise key catalytic projects and identify what benefits will accrue from these to local communities in terms of job creation as well as business opportunities.
“We believe that this One Stop Shop will do just that. One of the constant frustrations encountered by potential investors into our province is the amount of time they have to spend visiting different government departments and institutions to fulfil regulatory requirements and the need to simplify the regulatory framework,” said Zikalala.
City Manager Sibusiso Sithole said the One Stop Shop was in response of the challenges experienced by investors and developers who want decisions to be taken speedily to fast track development.
“The One Stop Shop is not just a building. It’s really the commitment to do businesses in a different way and the approach that we would like to take in order to cut the number of days it takes for businesses to receive business licences, permits for electricity or opening a business in our City,” he said.
