President Jacob Zuma will on Friday, 08 April 2016, provide a progress report on the implementation of South Africa’s ground-breaking Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy initiative at the Port of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province.
The President launched Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy in July 2014 in Durban as a results-driven approach to development, involving various sectors such as business, labour, academia, civil society, State-owned Entities and Government. The sectors worked together to develop detailed delivery action plans, set targets and monitor progress on an on-going basis, in order to address the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
The Oceans Economy Phakisa focuses on the following:
- Marine Transport and Manufacturing, led by the Department of Transport;
- Offshore Oil and Gas, led by the Department of Mineral Resources;
- Aquaculture, led by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;
- Marine Protection Services and Ocean Governance, led by the Department of Environmental Affairs;
- Small Harbours Development, led by Department of Public Works; and
- Coastal and Marine Tourism, led by the Department of Tourism.
Operation Phakisa is an adaptation of the Big Fast Results methodology that was successfully applied by the Malaysian Government in the delivery of its Economic and Government Transformation Programmes.
South Africa is uniquely bordered by the ocean on three sides – east, south and west with the inclusion of Prince Edward and Marion Islands in the Southern Ocean, with the coastline of over 3000 km long and an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
This vast ocean space is relatively unexplored in terms of its economic potential. In 2010, the ocean contributed approximately R54 billion to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounted for approximately 316 000 jobs.
An economic study was conducted of nine sectors that comprise South Africa’s ocean economy and it was determined that the ocean has a potential to contribute up to R177 billion to the Gross Domestic Product and create up to one million jobs by 2033.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Friday, 8 April 2016
Time: 10h00
Venue: Port of Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
Media attending the event are required to send their details including ID/passport numbers preferably on or before Thursday 07 April 2016 by noon to Sivuyile Ngaba at SNgaba@environment.gov.za or 083 958 4663 or Banele Mabena at SMabena@environment.gov.za or 073 297 9409 or Hlomani Baloyi on 083 276 1295 or hlomani@presidency.gov.za
Enquiries:
Bongani Majola
CellA: 082 339 1993
E-mail: bonganim@presidency.gov.za
