Possible investments are looming for the district after Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) hosted a two-day Investment Summit at Sun Meropa starting onThursday, 13 June 2019.
The objective of the event was to attract investment into the district and representatives from the embassies of Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Mozambique took the opportunity to network with prospective trade partners and learn more about the potential of Capricorn District as an investment option.
The summit was an outcome of an extensive research program involving the district’s private, commercial, mining, construction, agricultural and business sectors and resulted in a series of detailed project feasibility studies allowing the municipality to compile a portfolio of pre-qualified and verified viable trade and investment opportunities that are available.
Presentations were made by experts from the agricultural, mining and tourism sectors and representatives from parastatals and stakeholders which included the Land Bank, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) as well as the Department of Agriculture and business leaders.
CDM Acting Executive Mayor Cllr Chuene Malebana welcomed guests and said that the purpose of the summit is to showcase Capricorn district’s wealth of investment opportunities as well as the diversity of its economic sectors.
Referring to Youth Month, Malebana said that jobs for young people remain a big headache for all spheres of government – whether with formal education or not. “Without hope of ever getting a decent job and enough money to live a normal life, many young people would be tempted to get involved in criminal activities and social ills such as prostitution or seek escape into oblivion through the abuse of alcohol and drugs and resultant risky sexual behaviour and diseases – all which have become modern prime enemies of young people,” Malebana said.
“While we as government spare no effort to provide the overarching framework for cooperation and integration, it is ultimately companies that should drive the process forward, finding innovative ways to collaborate, build alliances, and seize opportunities together. This gathering represents potential partnerships of the public and private sector that is essential for growth and development in our district. We hope that in the next two days you will individually find lucrative potential in the region’s retail, tourism, agriculture, mining and manufacturing sectors as well as other economic sectors. We believe there are opportunities with huge potential in our district and our communities are ready to collaborate and work for their better lives,” Malebana assured the delegates.
“Underpinning this conference is our determination to grow our economy at a faster rate as well as to create jobs for our people. It is clearer to us that this vision could not be achieved without business taking advantage of opportunities available in the district. We therefore assure potential investors of our district’s full support and absolute cooperation as you set up new ventures and enterprises here,” Malebana concluded.
Story & photos: BARRY VILJOEN
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