Dr Zweli Mkhize, Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is embarking on his programme to present KZN as an investment destination. He arrived in Atlanta (United States of America) today during an official trip.
“I am here to extend an invitation to the potential investors to consider KZN, South Africa and Southern Africa as a whole for investments.”
“Our province is home to more than 10 million people and is located in the eastern seaboard of our country, sharing border with three SADC countries, namely Mozambique, Botswana and Swaziland.
“SADC, which we are part of, working together with other African regional bodies including the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community and comprising 26 countries have agreed to form Africa’s biggest free trade bloc which will, in turn, create a single continent-wide market estimated to be worth US $1 trillion by 2013.”
“These 26 countries have a combined population of 590 million and an aggregate GDP of US $860 billion. Considering that that South Africa is now part of the world’s biggest socio-political and economic bloc made up of Brazil, Russia, India and China known as BRICS, we now have endless opportunities. BRICS countries provide a combined market of about 2,9 billion people.”
“Therefore, following the successful hosting of the BRICS summit, we have been inviting the international investment community to work with the South African government, and KZN government in particular to access this market.”
Dr Zweli Mkhize is accompanied by the MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, the Mayor of Umsunduzi Municipality Cllr Chris Ndlela. The premier’s scheduled is as follows:
- Meeting with officials of Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta: this is the national public health institute of the United States and it focuses on applying disease control and prevention methods designed to improve the health status of the people of America.
- Meeting with officials of Coca Cola at the head office of the company:- KZN Provincial government is embarking on a programme to convince multinationals to consider KZN as the province to house their Head offices in Africa.
- Deliver Official Greeting from KwaZulu-Natal /South Africa at the Opening Ceremony of the National Black Mayors Conference in Atlanta. The conference will be attended by more than 22 000 black mayors from all over the world. It consists of Mayoral Associations’ presidents and African Union Representatives.
- Deliver a presentation on behalf of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa the importance of bringing business to KZN and South Africa. This will be a panel discussion attended by Black Mayors Business Council & Board of Directors.
Enquiries
Ndabezinhle Sibiya: Spokesperson for the Premier
Cell: 082 3754742
Regi Khumalo: Media Liaison Desk for the Premier
Cell: 079 751 6108
