Provincial and Local Government to host conference on developing local
economies, 14 - 15 Aug

8 August 2006

The Department of Provincial and Local Government (the dplg) is hosting a
conference that brings together key players and stakeholders in the field of
Local Economic Development (LED) both from Government and the business
sector.

The aim of the conference is to mobilise South Africans to work together in
stimulating the regional and local economies in order for the Accelerated and
Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) to be realised and the 6%
growth target to be surpassed.

The conference, themed: ‘partnering to build a sustainable economy for all’,
hopes to come up with consensus on how to support the development of
sustainable local economies through integrated government action. Its objective
is to place LED within national context (creating synergy with AsgiSA and the
Provincial Growth and Development Strategies (PGDS).

Local Economic Development is one of the five Key Performance Areas (KPAs)
for municipalities, and is central in creating an environment for growth, and
to increase capacity and employment opportunities in their localities.

Conference details:
Date: Monday, 14 – Tuesday, 15 August 2006
Venue: Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Time: Refer to the programme below

National conference on developing local economies
Draft programme
14 - 15 August 2006
Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, Johannesburg

Theme
Partnering to build a sustainable economy for all

Purpose
Develop a shared understanding of good LED practice and motivate more effective
implementation

Objectives
* place LED within national context (synergy with NSDP, AsgiSA and Provincial
Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS)
* discussion of the national LED framework
* establish national consensus on LED
* lay the basis for implementation.

Day 1
08h30 – 09h45: Registrations
09h45 – 10h00: Welcome and introductions (Derek Powell)

Session 1: Policy
Chair: Derek Powell
10h00 – 10h30: Minister’s Speech
10h30 – 11h00: Presentation of LED framework (Director-General)
11h00 – 11h30: Questions for clarity

Session 2: Research reports on LED
Chair: Bernadette Leon
Facilitator: Ian Goldman
11h30 – 11h50: Overview of LED practice in South Africa (Etienne Nel)
11h50 – 12h10: LED in Metros and Secondary Cities (Sithole Mbanga)
12h10 – 12h30: Discussions
12h30 – 13h30: Lunch

Session 3: Deepening community participation
Chair: Muthotho Sigidi
Facilitator: Karen Harrison
13h30 – 13h50: Perspective on sustainable LED (Mark Swilling)
13h50 – 14h10: Role of traditional leaders in LED (Abram Sithole)
14h10 – 14h30: Discussions

Session 4: Role of trade, industry and entrepreneurship in LED
Chair: Elroy Africa
Facilitator: Jacob de Villiers
14h30 – 14h50: Presentation by Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) (DG:
Tsidiso Matona)
14h50 – 15h10: Presentation by Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
(Lumkile Mondi)
15h10 – 15h30: Discussions
15h30 – 16h00: Tea break

Session 5: Laying the basis for implementation (Breakaway sessions)
Chair: Dan Manyindo
16h00 – 18h00: Breakaway 1: Investing in communities
Presenter: Norman Reynolds
Facilitator: Derek Powell

Breakaway 2: Intensify enterprise development
Presenter: Nomvula Masango
Facilitation: Ranveer Persad

Breakaway 3: Public Sector leadership and governance
Presenter: Karuna Mohan
Facilitator: Lechesha Tsenoli

Breakaway 4: Unique advantage of local economies
Presenters: Dr Paul Jourdan and Hassen Mohamed
Facilitator: Shiva Makotoko

Cocktail evening

Day 2
Session 6: Some case studies on LED programmes
Chair: Tumi Mketi
Facilitator: Chris Gilmore
08h00 – 08h20: Presentation on Gijima, Thina Sinako and Mafato-A-Kgoale
provincial LED programmes (Claude Lambshead)
08h20 – 08h40: Presentation on Mpumalanga LED programme (Gabriele Trah)
08h40 – 09h00: Discussions

Session 7: LED support programmes
Chair: Shiva Makotoko
09h00 – 10h30

Infrastructure investment
Public works - Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) (Carmen Abrahams)
dplg - MIG and Urban Renewal Programme (URP)/Integrated Sustainable Rural
Development Programme (ISRDP) (Bernadette Leon)
National Treasury - (TV Pillay)

Enterprise Support
dti (Ray Ngcobo)
Seda (Wawa Damane)
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) (Jacinto Rocha)

Institutional development
Free State University (Prof L Botha)
AEDA (Phila Xuza)
Lynelle John
10h30 – 11h00: Tea break

Session 8: Report back and way forward
Chair: Tozi Faba
11h00 – 12h00: Report back from breakaway sessions
12h00 – 12h30: Way forward (Yusuf Patel)
12h00 – 13h00: Closing remarks (Deputy Minister)
13h00 – 14h00: Lunch

The media is requested to confirm attendance by Thursday, 10 August 2006

For confirmations and enquiries please contact:
Luzuko Koti (Departmental spokesperson)
Tel: (012) 334 0699
Cell: 083 391 0073

Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
8 August 2006