at the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA)
Eastern Cape Pty Ltd launch
14 May 2007
Good day members of the media. Thank you for coming to embrace this very
important occasion, the launch of Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for
South Africa (AsgiSA) Eastern Cape Pty Ltd. Our meeting that we have had this
morning was a successful one. I am confident that the way forward mapped out
will undoubtedly take us to the higher levels in the economic growth of the
province especially the eastern part.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Eastern Cape government is moving swiftly in
ensuring that it meets its target to halve poverty in the province by 2014, as
the process of establishment of a fully-fledged AsgiSA Eastern Cape Pty Ltd
special purpose vehicle for this is gaining momentum. The AsgiSA Eastern Cape
Pty Ltd will see its wheels moving fast as I have now appointed its new board
of directors this morning. The board has been selected in such a manner that it
brings all expertise from renowned sons and daughters of the province inside
and outside the Eastern Cape.
The provincial government is the sole shareholder of the company. The
company's task is to effectively and efficiently manage the mega-projects in
the Eastern region to yield the desired fruits much awaited for by the
citizenry of the province. It is aimed at facilitating and crowding investment
for AsgiSA in the province and to create a natural link between the booming
first economy and developing second economy. By this way, the Eastern Cape
government is renewing its pledge to foster national partnership to build a
better life for all!
AsgiSA Eastern Cape Pty Ltd will focus on the following mega-projects: The
first is the multi-billion Umzimvubu Basin Water Management project which is
expected to create 300 000 jobs. This project will strengthen water security
and electricity supply in the province and nationally. It will be linked with
an irrigation scheme covering a large section of the former Transkei, which
will be used for grain production in the summer and canola for bio-fuel
production in winter.
There will be other economic spin-offs from the project. The second project
will include beefing up of Eastern Cape's forestry and timber industry. The
latter project is part of the goal to acquire 100 000 hectares of trees in the
province that will be forested in the coming decade. Nationwide the timber
industry has employed about 170 000 people and has annually contributed about
R16 billion to the economy and is expected to play the similar role in the
province.
The two projects will also contribute to the development of Mthatha as a
third major city in the province. Thus, while Coega Industrial Development Zone
(IDZ) and East London IDZ carry on with their further development of the cities
of Port Elizabeth and East London in the west, AsgiSA Eastern Cape Pty Ltd will
focus on the development of the eastern side of the province. This will not
only bring urbanisation to the largely rural area, but will also balance
economic scales of the province and bring a better life for all the people of
the Eastern Cape. This entity holds the key to bringing economic vitality to
the eastern part of the province. The interim board that was set to lay grounds
for the formal establishment of the company will now automatically dissolve
with immediate effect.
The new board of directors will not take the baton and drive the process
forward. It will craft a way forward on how to conduct future business which
will include the finalisation of the recruitment of the new Chief Executive
Officer of AsgiSA Eastern Cape.
All its endeavours would be to halve poverty in the area by 2014 and make
the Eastern Cape a compelling place to live, and invest.
Ladies and gentleman members of the media, I have the pleasure to announce
the members of the board of directors of AsgiSA (Eastern Cape) Pty Ltd. They
are:
* Mr Claasen, Gert
* Mr Ferreira, Nico
* Pro Jafta, Nondumiso
* Mr Macozoma, Saki
* Ms Manase, Zodwa
* Dr Nkonyeni, Archie
* Mr Nkuhlu, Andile
* Pro Nkuhlu, Wiseman
* Mr Phakathi, Xola
* Ms Serobe, Gloria
* Mr Zilwa, Sindy
* MEC for Economic Affairs Environment and Tourism, Mr Mbulelo Sogoni as an ex
officio member. Mr Kevin Watford, my economic advisor and Mr Andrew Murray will
act as technocrats.
They are a special chosen breed for the good that they have done in the
province. I wish all of them, good luck. We pledge our support as Eastern Cape
government at all times.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
14 May 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za)
