The development of the agricultural sector – and, especially, massive investment in agro-processing industries – is being mooted increasingly as the means to diversify the Eastern Cape’s economy away from its reliance on automotive assembly.
That much became clear at yesterday’s economic symposium, “Tackling provincial competitiveness: Turning possibility into reality”, aimed at setting an agenda for provincial growth in the medium to long term.
But although there was much emphasis on farming in discussions among those tasked with initiating changes to the provincial economy, MEC for agriculture Mlibo Qoboshiyane was absent.
Convened by the provincial department of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism, the annual gathering is intended to draw to gether stakeholders in the public and private sectors for high-level discussions.
Economic affairs MEC Sakhumzi Somyo made light of Qoboshiyane’s attendance of an event in Fort Beaufort rather than addressing the symposium, telling the Dispatch that since both were members of the economic development cluster, they were able to stand in for each other when necessary.
“Don’t take it negatively that he’s not here,” he said.
Somyo said the drive to diversify the provincial economy away from its emphasis on the automotive sector was critical to jobs growth.
Black business people had to ditch their preoccupation with securing government tenders and get involved in industrialisation in order to “massify” manufacturing. Investment in agri-industries that included every aspect of the value chain such as abattoirs or canning factories, and not simply maintaining herds of animals or growing crops, was key to success in growing the economy.
It was critical to provide agri-hubs which would enable people to sustain themselves in the rural areas rather than migrating to the cities where they ended up in squalid and impoverished conditions.
It would also mean investments in the ocean economy.
An upbeat Somyo said the experience of kicking off the renewable energy sector gave him hope that similar investment initiatives in other sectors could be leveraged.
Deputy minister of trade and industry Mzwandile Masina, told the symposium the province was classified as rural, even though R4.7-billion had been invested in the two industrial development zones at Coega and East London.
The IDZs were epicenters of provincial growth but their location was a continuation of the old problem.
Driving EC economy away from car plants
That much became clear at yesterday’s economic symposium, “Tackling provincial competitiveness: Turning possibility into reality”, aimed at setting an agenda for provincial growth in the medium to long term.
But although there was much emphasis on farming in discussions among those tasked with initiating changes to the provincial economy, MEC for agriculture Mlibo Qoboshiyane was absent.
Convened by the provincial department of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism, the annual gathering is intended to draw to gether stakeholders in the public and private sectors for high-level discussions.
Economic affairs MEC Sakhumzi Somyo made light of Qoboshiyane’s attendance of an event in Fort Beaufort rather than addressing the symposium, telling the Dispatch that since both were members of the economic development cluster, they were able to stand in for each other when necessary.
“Don’t take it negatively that he’s not here,” he said.
Somyo said the drive to diversify the provincial economy away from its emphasis on the automotive sector was critical to jobs growth.
Black business people had to ditch their preoccupation with securing government tenders and get involved in industrialisation in order to “massify” manufacturing. Investment in agri-industries that included every aspect of the value chain such as abattoirs or canning factories, and not simply maintaining herds of animals or growing crops, was key to success in growing the economy.
It was critical to provide agri-hubs which would enable people to sustain themselves in the rural areas rather than migrating to the cities where they ended up in squalid and impoverished conditions.
It would also mean investments in the ocean economy.
An upbeat Somyo said the experience of kicking off the renewable energy sector gave him hope that similar investment initiatives in other sectors could be leveraged.
Deputy minister of trade and industry Mzwandile Masina, told the symposium the province was classified as rural, even though R4.7-billion had been invested in the two industrial development zones at Coega and East London.
The IDZs were epicenters of provincial growth but their location was a continuation of the old problem.
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