EASTERN Cape premier Noxolo Kiviet has left for Indonesia with a high level 13-member delegation of economic development stakeholders.
The premier is on a seven-day visit aimed at sealing cooperation agreements between the province and one of the fastest growing emerging economies in Asia.
Kiviet leads a delegation made up of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism MEC Mcebisi Jonas, rural development and agrarian reform MEC Zoleka Capa, as well as CEOs, board members and executive managers of parastatals responsible for the province’s economic development.
The parastatals that joined Kiviet’s delegation to Asia include Coega, East London Industrial Development Zone, Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.
Addressing the media before her state of the province address last month, Kiviet cited Indonesia as a targeted country to learn how to deal with unemployment which sits at more than 28% in the Eastern Cape.
To steer development, Kiviet said the province wanted to adopt the “Indonesian approach”, where in a country with more than 200 million inhabitants, fewer than 6% are unemployed.
She said low unemployment was “because the Indonesian economy depends more on small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) and cooperatives”.
Outlining the objectives of this week’s visit, Kiviet said the delegation would concentrate more on learning about the development of SMMEs and cooperatives and also about port management.
The Eastern Cape boasts three working ports, which Kiviet said could be used to enhance exports and trade.
Kiviet said they would look at Indonesia’s agricultural industry development with the aim of starting an exchange programme with their universities and technikons.
This would strengthen research and development capacity in food and fruit production as well as in processing.
Kiviet said Indonesia was similar to South Africa and the Eastern Cape in many respects, including a history of colonisation and challenges of poverty.
The province will also sign a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia so this mostly rural province could learn how that country achieved its phenomenal growth in foreign direct investment.
During her state of the province address, Kiviet said two upcoming massive investments in the province would create thousands of jobs.
They are the Umzimvubu water multi-purpose project which has been in the pipeline for the past six years and Project Mthombo, both of which are expected to begin by the end of the year.
According to Kiviet, other major multi-billion- rand projects to start this year include the R8-billion N2 Wild Coast road project and Ngqura trans- shipment hub project for which R3.4-billion has already been spent on infrastructure.
Kiviet’s delegation is expected back in the province this coming weekend.
Provincial planning and finance MEC Phumulo Masualle will act as premier. —
Kiviet visits Indonesia to seal vital agreements
The premier is on a seven-day visit aimed at sealing cooperation agreements between the province and one of the fastest growing emerging economies in Asia.
Kiviet leads a delegation made up of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism MEC Mcebisi Jonas, rural development and agrarian reform MEC Zoleka Capa, as well as CEOs, board members and executive managers of parastatals responsible for the province’s economic development.
The parastatals that joined Kiviet’s delegation to Asia include Coega, East London Industrial Development Zone, Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.
Addressing the media before her state of the province address last month, Kiviet cited Indonesia as a targeted country to learn how to deal with unemployment which sits at more than 28% in the Eastern Cape.
To steer development, Kiviet said the province wanted to adopt the “Indonesian approach”, where in a country with more than 200 million inhabitants, fewer than 6% are unemployed.
She said low unemployment was “because the Indonesian economy depends more on small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) and cooperatives”.
Outlining the objectives of this week’s visit, Kiviet said the delegation would concentrate more on learning about the development of SMMEs and cooperatives and also about port management.
The Eastern Cape boasts three working ports, which Kiviet said could be used to enhance exports and trade.
Kiviet said they would look at Indonesia’s agricultural industry development with the aim of starting an exchange programme with their universities and technikons.
This would strengthen research and development capacity in food and fruit production as well as in processing.
Kiviet said Indonesia was similar to South Africa and the Eastern Cape in many respects, including a history of colonisation and challenges of poverty.
The province will also sign a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia so this mostly rural province could learn how that country achieved its phenomenal growth in foreign direct investment.
During her state of the province address, Kiviet said two upcoming massive investments in the province would create thousands of jobs.
They are the Umzimvubu water multi-purpose project which has been in the pipeline for the past six years and Project Mthombo, both of which are expected to begin by the end of the year.
According to Kiviet, other major multi-billion- rand projects to start this year include the R8-billion N2 Wild Coast road project and Ngqura trans- shipment hub project for which R3.4-billion has already been spent on infrastructure.
Kiviet’s delegation is expected back in the province this coming weekend.
Provincial planning and finance MEC Phumulo Masualle will act as premier. —
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