ETHEKWINI Municipality has announced an innovative approach to ensure that Durban becomes a city which is centered on “partnering for growth”.
To stave off risk to economic growth, plans are afoot for the City to embark on measures to meet economic challenges head-on as it competes for growth both nationally and globally.
In working together to shape Durban’s future, more than 21 partners in the public, private, education and non-profit sector will jointly host a three-day conference themed “Shape Durban” from 21 to 23 November at Durban’s International Convention Centre. The conference, together with an open online survey available to all Durban economic stakeholders, will collate inputs to determine a shared economic strategy for Durban over the next five-year period.
At the Shape Durban City Manager’s Partners’ Breakfast held recently ahead of the main conference, Deputy Chairperson of the Economic Development and Planning Committee, Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala said the municipality was seeking support from the city’s youth and its business fraternity. “We see the future of this beautiful City and it is up to us to come up with ways to aggressively work towards it,” he said.
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Representing the business sector, vice-president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gladwin Malishe said the Chamber commits itself to Shape Durban and believes it is essential for the city to be business friendly and improve the lives of all. He added: “As globalisation unfolded, our City suffered because we did not have a platform like this to jointly prepare. Now that we have Shape Durban, we will be more prepared for global trends like the current Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
Deputy Head of the City’s Economic Development and Investment Promotion Unit, Dr Ajiv Maharaj, said: “This time around, the municipality is not developing a strategy and consulting with business. The municipality is merely one of many partners, providing an opportunity for all stakeholders to craft the strategy, together.”
Frikkie Brooks from the office of the Premier also pledged the province’s support for the initiative, highlighting that the Durban economy accounts for 61 per cent of the KZN economy, and therefore its success was crucial.
The public is encouraged to participate by completing a survey on www.shape.durban designed to collate and include all inputs on the City’s economy.
Email justice.matarutse@durban.gov.za or visit www.shape.durban regarding the conference.
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