West
10 February 2006
The North West Provincial Government has identified two major projects to
stimulate the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa
(ASGI-SA).
Premier Edna Molewa announced today, during her State of the Province
Address, that the Taung Development Programme (TDP) and Mafikeng Industrial
Development Initiative (MIDI) were destined to boost the province's economy in
line with ASGI-SA.
"ASGI-SA enjoins both the private and public sectors to share the
responsibility of growing the economy to address the challenges of poverty,
unemployment and underdevelopment in our country," she said.
The TDP includes the Integrated Development Programme (IDP) focused on the
Taung Irrigation Scheme as well as the Modimong poverty relief project. It also
entails the Taung Skull World Heritage Site and the Taung dam, which has
tourism potential.
The MIDI includes the Western Frontier cattle beneficiation initiative,
which exploits cattle breeding and exports potential of the Western Corridor,
with Vryburg as a base.
In this regard, the initiative also links closely with the development in
Taung and the Mafikeng airport.
Ms Molewa said the Central Bio-Diesel project outside Mafikeng also had a
potential to contribute towards economic growth in the province. The project is
based on fuel and other products from seeds containing high oil content from
specific trees.
Another project is the Mining Supply and Industrial Park, which includes
establishment of mining goods as well as warehouse and delivery park at the
location convenient for most mining companies around Rustenburg.
It aims to benefit optimally from local and black economic empowerment
preferential procurement opportunities offered by the mining charter. "These
programmes are multi-year projects some of whom have already begun, while
others will be started soon," said Ms Molewa.
She also announced another project, the Infrastructure Delivery for Spatial
Development Initiatives, which aims to exploit the locality advantages of the
province and its proximity to the Gauteng metropolis.
Premier Molewa also announced that the province has recorded the economic
growth rate of 4.9 percent during 2004 as opposed to 4.5 percent in 2003.
Enquiries: Cornelius Monama
Spokesperson North West Provincial Government
Tel: (018) 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
10 February 2006
