8 August 2006
The Department of Provincial and Local Government (DLPG) 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
percent 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 it is
central in creating an environment for growth, also 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
Theme:
Partnering to Build a Sustainable Economy for All
Purpose: To develop a shared understanding of good LED practice and motivate
more effective implementation.
Objectives:
* place LED within national context [synergy with National Spatial Development
Perspective (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: Registration
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 (dti)
(Director-General: 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
Facilitator: 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, Municipal Infrastructure Grant and Urban Renewal Programme
(URP)/Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme (ISRDP) (Bernadette
Leon)
National Treasury - (T V Pillay)
Enterprise Support
Department of Trade and Industry (Ray Ngcobo)
Small Enterprise Development Agency (Wawa Damane)
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) (Jacinto Rocha)
Institutional development
Free State University (Prof L Botha)
Amathole Economic Development Agency (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
Source: Department of Provincial and Local Government (http://www.dplg.gov.za)
