The province of KwaZulu-Natal has positioned its agricultural sector for investment deals in the Agribusiness Summit held today, 31August at the 1 on 1 Events Conference Centre in Umhlanga, Durban. The conference was organised by the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development in association with Africa Investor, a specialist communications firm advising governments, international organisations and businesses on communication strategies for capital market and foreign direct investments in Africa. The two-day summit drew investors from all over the world to come and discuss issues, share information and seize opportunities.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has extended more than a word of welcome to the investors. The investors were invited to stay put and visit local communities around the province where their direct foreign investment is needed. Ethekwini Mayor Councillor Obed Mlaba encouraged investors to look at the provincial goat farming industry, KZN indigenous fruits like amakhiwa, amaganu (amarula) where any investment is set to benefit the local people and their economy. He also sighted the province’s interest in fish farming, something which they are still grappling to run with despite drawing lessons from Nigeria where the fish industry is thriving.
The Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development used the platform to showcase its agricultural potential and woo investors to seize opportunities. The Department's MEC Mrs Lydia Johnson took the investors into confidence by sharing the dreams and vision of the province in as far as agriculture is concerned. She outlined various agricultural activities in order for the investors to fully understand the agricultural outlook of the province.
The summit was also graced by the presence of KwaZulu-Natal Premier the Honourable Dr Zweli Mkhize who addressed investors and shared his sentiments about the summit. “Agriculture is the sector which presents enormous opportunities for investments. This government has therefore put in place an ambitious plan to use this sector to stimulate Foreign Direct Investment,” said the Premier. He also highlighted that the provincial government hopes to draw new interests in business and capital to the agricultural sector throughout the province. Hope for tangible results were echoed by mayor Obed Mlaba, MEC Johnson and the Honorable Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize.
The summit had robust debates by investors on the critical agribusiness issues where speakers shared expertise knowledge and anecdotal experiences of working on various projects throughout the globe. Presentations and talks will continue well throughout the day and the summit will end tomorrow.
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Ncumisa Mafunda
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