pay off
22 June 2006
Years of investment in improving infrastructure is paying off in Gauteng as
new centres of economic activity develop in certain parts of the province.
Speaking during the budget vote speech of his Department, MEC for Finance
and Economic Development, Paul Mashatile, said a trend was emerging where areas
that were historically on the margins of the economy have now become centres of
economic activity.
"Equally impressive is the emergence in our province of new centres of
economic activity in areas such as Soweto and some parts of the Johannesburg
Central Business District," Mashatile to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. He
said this trend has led to growth in the tourism, retail, transport and
telecommunications sectors in these areas.
Mashatile said the trend was as a result of the massive infrastructure
investment that has gone into these areas. "We expect this trend to gather
momentum as we invest in the improvement of infrastructure in more townships as
part of the 20 priority townships programme," he said.
He said the trend proves that investment in infrastructure does stimulate
economic activity.
Through Blue IQ alone the Gauteng Provincial Government has invested over R2
billion towards the improvement of the economic infrastructure. This investment
has created a conducive environment for the private sector to invest in target
sectors of the Gauteng economy. Over the next three years Gauteng will be
spending over R17 billion on infrastructures.
For more information contact:
Percy Mthimkhulu
Cell: 082 379 1913
Issued by: Department of Economic Development, Gauteng Provincial
Government
22 June 2006
