Innovation in transport sector can help grow the Gauteng economy
New technologies and solutions have the potential to create new industries in the transport infrastructure sector and grow Gauteng province’s economy.
This is according to Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, who launched the inaugural Annual Transport Innovation Seminar today, 10 October 2019.
The Department of Roads and Transport hosted the seminar under the theme: “Making Gauteng the City Region of Smart Mobility” at the Innovation Hub, where transport infrastructure industry players and research institutions shared ideas and solutions that can be used to make the sector more efficient.
“The period of the gold rush is now a thing of the past, in fact, Gauteng is grappling with the effect of the mining era. If we want to grow our economy, we will have to look at transport and mobility as the next big industry to stimulate economic activity,” said Mamabolo.
He added that innovation and leveraging new technological advances was the only way to create new industries.
The event was held as part of the October Transport Month and encouraged upcoming entrepreneurs to exhibit their solutions to government and private sector decision makers.
“We are holding this event as part of building a platform where small and medium enterprises can share ideas and best practices. This initiative helps us bridge the gap and allows business to share new smart solutions with government,” added Mamabolo.
The MEC also announced that in conjunction with the private sector and institutions of higher learning they would establish the Gauteng Transport Innovation Awards to give recognition to individuals with ground-breaking solutions in the transport and construction sector.
"We need solutions in the road construction, maintenance, green technology, and we also need innovations in traffic management. If we fail to come up with new ways of doing things, we will be failing future generations,” Mamabolo said.
Enquiries:
Theo Nkonki
Cell: 082 719 6404
Melitah Madiba
Cell: 073 644 9935
E-mail: PressOffice.gpdrt@gauteng.gov.za
