Issued by Finance and Economic Affairs, Gauteng
14 February 2001
PLAN TO DRIVE THE CREATION OF A 'SMART PROVINCE' IN GAUTENG
Gauteng will attract as much as R100-billion in investment within the next ten years through a strategically designed plan, which includes human resource development to create a 'smart' province.
The plan aims firstly, to develop existing business and attract further investment from international players in the sectors of technology, tourism, transport and high value-added manufacturing. The second aspect of the plan targets the creation of a skills base of knowledge workers for the new economy.
This is according to MEC Jabu Moleketi - who has already committed some R1, 2 billion toward developing the infrastructure for 10 strategic projects in the chosen sectors - 1 in technology, 4 in tourism, 3 in transport and 2 in manufacturing. A further R500 million is earmarked for the rollout of IT infrastructure to schools to meet the challenges of computer literacy and provide access to the Internet to children.
All 10 of the projects are already in various stages of development:
According to a Trade and Industrial Strategy done in 1997 - which helped to inform the plan for the "smart" province - it will tae at least 5 to 10 years to see the impact of the 10 projects on Gauteng's economy.
However, Moleketi said that within three years, the infrastructure required by citizens, tourists and businesses to access and use the facilities would be in place. In addition, GautengOnline.com would have been operational for two years giving 240 000 matriculants skills to find meaningful employment with their IT skills.
"In addition to providing every public school in the province free access to the Internet, GautengOnline.com will also see the establishment of a dedicated web-based mail system which every school learner in the province will be encouraged to use to acquire their own personal e-mail address," said Moleketi.
"Once these are in place, Gauteng will be able to compete more favourably with other countries looking to attract foreign direct investment." said Moleketi.
"Multinationals go where the factors of production are most favourable to securing competitive advantage in the global village. For this reason they require world-class infrastructure, advanced telecommunications systems, reasonably priced utilities and diversified and skilled labour resources," added Moleketi.
Gauteng is already home to South Africa's leading companies along with 70 percent of the country's workforce.
"The high speed train has the potential to create and sustain an estimated 42 000 direct job opportunities and a further 39 000 indirect job opportunities through downstream impacts. It will also have a direct positive impact on the GGP of the province," said Moleketi.
Following the successful declaration of the Cradle of Humankind as a World Heritage Site, the Gauteng Provincial Government is investing some R200m over the next three years to harness its unique international significance.
"In addition, it will provide widespread opportunities for the development of educational material, art and crafts, conferencing, academic research and study, brining people all over the world to visit this special area of our country," said Moleketi.