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The Chairperson of the Select Committee on International Relations and Trade, Mr Eddie Makue, says economic development should be made meaningful to those people living far away from economic hubs in South Africa.

“Ordinary people from the most rural districts of our country should experience economic development, through establishing sustainable and employment creating projects in their localities. This is the only way South Africa could beat poverty, migration and its associated challenges on the urban landscape,” Mr Makue said.

“Meaningful programmes that empower citizenry should be implemented in rural towns, with a view to cushion rural economies against twin challenges of economic development, the brain drain and migration of skilled rural people,” he said.

The Committee will jointly, with the Select Committee on Economic Development, undertake an oversight visit to Agricultural projects in the Northern Cape and Limpopo – two of the three most rural provinces in SA.

Mr Makue said the fifth administration rightly made radical economic development a priority, and that had since been supported by funding.

“The Committee accepts that economic development and rural development will not be easy to achieve, but the work is progressing well under the current administration and that work should continue. Parliament is keen in seeing a working and self reliant South Africa,” he said.

Issued by Parliament