18 October 2007
KwaZulu-Natal and South Korea are on the fast lane as the people of
KwaZulu-Natal are ushered into very important and exciting times.
This was echoed by KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sibusiso Ndebele during his
keynote address delivered on 18 October 2007 at the first day of the uMshwathi
Municipality's Local Economic Development two-day Summit being held at the
Albert Falls Guest Lodge and Conference Centre at uMshwathi in the
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
"A delegation from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and uMshwathi
Municipality, headed by myself, just returned from South Korea on 29 September
2007 and already we are seeing the partnership between KwaZulu-Natal and South
Korea being concretised. We are indeed pleased with the swift response from our
colleagues in South Korea who are here with us today.
Korea hosted the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2002 and South Africa will be
hosting the Soccer World Cup in 2010. On 25 November 2007 the 2010 Soccer
Preliminary Draw will be held in South Africa in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. We
are working very hard to make sure that at least eight to ten countries will
use KwaZulu-Natal as their home ground during the Soccer World Cup.
South Africa, and particularly KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), is one of the most
investor-friendly regions. KZN is the largest province in South Africa and very
rich in natural resources. The province also boasts two of the largest
harbours."
"Although we produce lots of timber, the majority of our timber is exported
and manufactured into furniture by other countries which we in turn buy back.
Why should we be exporting this timber when we can manufacture our own
furniture for which we already have a ready market?" asked Premier Ndebele.
"Government is one of those ready markets and we will also be able to create
numerous jobs for our people. We have almost three million learners in our
province attending 6 000 schools. All these learners require desks and all
these schools require office furniture. What about the furniture requirements
of our hospitals, clinics, municipalities, government departments and so
on?
"Even other countries on the African continent purchase most of their
furniture from Europe because South Africa doesn't manufacture enough
furniture. Our local timber, furniture and leather industries must be
capacitated and key local areas within the province of KwaZulu-Natal which have
their own natural resources, such as uMshwathi with cattle for leather and
timber for furniture must play a leading role," said the Premier.
A delegation from South Korea, including Mr Tiger Kwon, Chairman of Trapeace
Holdings International, also attended the summit.
"This is the first delegation from South Korea to come to KwaZulu-Natal and
uMshwathi. South Korea is in the fast lane and we want to share our knowledge
and experience that led to South Korea becoming world-class.
"We want to help create a better future in this land of opportunity-South
Africa and in this regard we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
uMshwathi Municipality today for the establishment of a leather and furniture
factory. We look forward to the opportunity afforded to Korean companies to
participate and co-operate in this process thereby contributing to the success
of the South African economy," said Kwon.
The summit was also addressed by uMshwathi's Mayor Councillor Marshall Gwala
as well as District Mayor Councillor Bongi Sithole-Mlaba.
Two major highlights of the summit were:
* the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Development Bank of
Southern Africa (DBSA) on the Sustainable Communities Project.
* the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr Tiger Kwon, Chairperson
of South Korea's Trapeace Holdings International. This MOU is about
co-operation between the uMshwathi Municipality and Trapeace with specific
reference to the establishment of a furniture manufacturing factory as well as
a leather factory in uMshwathi by Korean business people.
The 2007/08 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for uMshwathi Municipality
urges for an unprecedented and intensive approach to developing the
municipality ("business unusual" approach).
Umshwathi is a semi-rural area within sugar-cane fields and timber forests
and has a very low revenue base.
The intention to help develop the municipality in an unprecedented and
intensive manner is underpinned by a two-pronged approach, namely:
* Local Economic Development Strategy, with tangible economic development
lead projects; and
* Strategic partnerships for strengthening administration, management,
governance and investments in the Municipality.
Based on the IDP imperatives and the two-pronged approach, a number of
specific initiatives have been started and key among these is the partnership
with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) as well as the recent
investment mission to South Korea.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Premier's Spokesperson
Cell: 083 644 4050
E-mail: maistryl@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
18 October 2007
