Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies launched an investment promotion and facilitation call centre in Moroka, Soweto. The Cheshire Home Based Call Centre is part of the new strategy on investment promotion and facilitation that seeks to improve investment climate in the country and reduce the costs of doing business. The ten seater call centre will be staffed by people with disabilities.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Davies said that the call centre is an apex government priority in terms of the Cabinet Plan of Action (POA) of 2007, where all investment applications of R100 million and above are registered and followed up, with escalation to The Presidency if insufficient progress is registered within three months.
Director of Investment Promotion at the Department of Trade and Industry, Yunush Hoosen said the call centre will be a one stop shop service for national and international investors to reduce administrative and regulatory barriers, as well as facilitating a smooth entry into the South African market by foreign investors. “It will provide a conducive investment environment and improve our investment climate,” he said.
Minister Davies said South Africa has recognised investment as a key element. “We are trying to reach targets in reaching productive activity, growth in employment, decreasing inequalities, tackling poverty and providing decent employment.”
The department has in the past year updated strategies on exports and foreign economic offices and embarked on a training programme to ensure that all export and investment promotion activities are undertaken by people who are appropriately trained. The call centre agents have in this regard, been in training for the past six months on the Department of Trade and Industry programmes and services.
It has also adopted an integrated project team approach and last year there was a pipeline of R46.5 billion worth of investment enquiries.
Davies added that the success of this three year pilot project may lead to further expansion of this concept and adoption by other government departments and the private sector across the country.
Manager of the Cheshire Home, Mandla Mhlanga expressed his contentment that disabled people are also given equal opportunities as able ones and that government is keeping its promise in integrating them into the society. My wish is to see more disabled people given a chance to prove themselves.
The call centre will be operational from 30 November 2009 via Telephone: 011 341 1600 or E-mail: investsa@thedti.gov.za.
For further information contact:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 073 522 6801
E-mail: MSmedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
16 October 2009
