Date:23/01/2007
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Creecy: Soccerex media conference


Statement on the Soccerex media conference by Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ms Barbara Creecy, Johannesburg

It gives me great pleasure to address you at this briefing and to outline the Gauteng Government's plans for this major and very exciting event. It is of significance that this Expo is taking place as we build up to and prepare ourselves for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, with Gauteng hosting three of the official match venues.

Last year a high level delegation led by Premier Mbhazima Shilowa was in Dubai to directly experience the magnitude of the event and to interact with the various business people and sports organisations. We used the opportunity to understand how Gauteng could benefit from Soccerex to improve the lives of its people by growing tourism and investment.

Having witnessed the enthusiasm and interest shown by exhibitors in Dubai during last year's event, I am confident that Soccerex will allow Gauteng and the nation an opportunity to showcase our competitive advantages on the international stage. This will enhance our ability to accelerate shared economic growth by attracting investment, tourism and sporting and other major events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It will also contribute to our efforts of building Gauteng as a globally competitive city region as well as the home of champions.

Because Soccerex attracts the who's who of soccer and business from across the globe, it will give Gauteng an opportunity to expand economically in line with our Growth and Development Strategy. The Growth and Development Strategy recognises the leadership role of our province in driving integrated, holistic, sustainable and participatory growth and development. It also acknowledges and identifies the role of sport in ensuring socio-economic transformation.

Soccerex will give us another opportunity to demonstrate that we can host successful world class events. It will showcase our business and conferencing facilities, hospitality, transport and communications infrastructure, culture and tourism destinations and business opportunities ahead of 2010.

Furthermore the Soccerex initiative gives us an opportunity to forge partnerships with our stakeholders including the South African Football Association (SAFA) and South African soccer in general. I believe that the Expo will also provide opportunities for local business and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) to get a slice of the pie through selling domestic products and creating temporary jobs which will contribute to the social upliftment of our people.

This afternoon, I will be opening the first consultative forum with various stakeholders and the Soccerex delegation aimed at informing them about the opportunities and the significance of this event.

The idea is to find South African partners to assist in the exploitation of the commercial rights. We also want to make sure that professional teams, African soccer enterprises at large, and small businesses are assisted to participate in this important exhibition.

Gauteng is proud to be associated with Soccerex and we aim to pull out all the stops to ensure that once again we prove to the world that our province is capable of hosting the world's greatest football events.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng Provincial Government
23 January 2007