Mayor visits China to woo investors
Ekurhuleni mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele jetted out to China last Friday, May 8, on a mission to woo investors to invest in the city.
Gungubele also attended the annual World Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition, which took place in China.
In an attempt to turn the economy of Ekurhuleni around and create jobs for the thousands who are unemployed in the city, the metro adopted the aerotropolis concept a few years ago, as an economic growth trajectory.
An aerotropolis is a city that anchors its economic activities around the existence of an international airport – in this case the OR Tambo International Airport.
“We are going to China to tell the world that Ekurhuleni has adopted a posture that is welcoming to strategic partnerships and private sector investments,” said Gungubele.
“We want the world to know that we are the preferred destination for investment in the Southern hemisphere.”
“It should be noted that the implementation of the aerotropolis programme in Ekurhuleni intends to balance the distribution of economic activity between the nine affluent areas and the 17 townships of Ekurhuleni.
“This will be achieved through a systematic spatial and economic programme, to enable the geographic spread.
“This way, our people will enjoy its benefits and improved quality of life from wherever they are, without moving closer to the airport,” added Gungubele.
“Judging from what has been happening around OR Tambo International, it is clear that the aerotropolis has taken off in a big way and we cannot look back now,” explained Gungubele.
The mayor and the Ekurhuleni delegation are expected back in the country in a couple of weeks.
