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KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government won the bid to host the BRICS Business Council from the 22nd to the 23rd July 2018 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.

Ahead of the BRICS Business Council meeting, Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone will host a BRICS Round Table Discussion involving leaders from all spheres of government, private sector, academics, the media and ordinary members of society.

The Republic of South Africa Ambassador for BRICS Professor Anil Sooklal will give a keynote address in this round table discussion aimed at achieving the following:-

1.    Exploring investment opportunities offered by being part of BRICS,

2.    Facilitating business-to-business relations involving entrepreneurs in BRICS,

3.    Facilitating exchange programmes involving academics in BRICS,

4.    Positioning RBIDZ as a destination for foreign direct investments,

5.    Unpacking the role of RBIDZ as an anchor for socio-economic development in KZN.

Other guests scheduled to speak include MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala, mayors, academics, captains of industry and emerging entrepreneurs.

Considered as the fastest growing secondary city in the Republic of South Africa, Richards Bay look set to receive much needed boost in the form of foreign direct investments – thanks to the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ).
RBIDZ has already signed investments worth a whooping R11 billion representing different key sectors of the economy. These include chemicals, renewable energy, pipe manufacturing to name but a few.

Whilst it is widely accepted that progress is being made in speeding up socio-economic development, there is an urgent need to take advantage of being part of BRICS to fast-track the entry of previously disadvantaged communities into the mainstream economy.

It is for these reasons that RBIDZ is hosting the Round-Table Discussion on the 17th July at the Zone’s Techno-Park Building.

Critically, the Round-Table Discussion should be viewed within the context of attempts at translating the political freedom into economic freedom for the majority of ordinary members of society.  Having hosted the BRICS Summit in 2013, the provincial government understand that this bloc is an organization established to safeguard the interests of the so-called developing nations.

The BRICS Round-Table Discussion is scheduled as follows and media is invited to attend:-

Date    :           17 July 2018

Time    :           14h00

Venue  :           RBIDZ Techno Park Building (Phase 1A) – 1 Medway Road Meerense,   

                        Richards Bay.

GPS    :           28 46’43.49”S, 32’ 4’1.91”E

RSVP with sindiswa.thusi@rbidz.co.za or Landline 035 7972601 / 035 797 2674

Enquiries:-

Ms Choice Sihiya: Stakeholder Relations Manager - Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone

084 207 5823

Issued by Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone