DURBAN
- President Jacob Zuma launched the Invest SA One Stop Shop in Durban this past Saturday.
The Invest SA One Stop Shop was first announced by President Jacob Zuma during his State of the Nation address in 2015. The One Stop Shop was created in order to remove the red tape around terms of trade and investment in South Africa. The Durban Invest SA One Stop Shop is the third of its kind to be launched in South Africa, after Pretoria and Cape Town respectively.
Also present at the launch were Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala, eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Bulelani Magwanishe and Dominic Collett from the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Council.
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According to the Zuma, the Invest SA One Stop Shop is being established to drawn in new investments. "To be able to drawn in new investments, we need to create a conducive environment," he said.
This environment will be the main point of government for potential investors to get things licences and permits. The Invest SA One Stop Shop will offer services that are rendered by departments like the Home Affairs and South African Revenue Services under one roof.
The President noted that the promotion of investment would be crucial for the economy and added that the Invest SA One Stop Shop and the services that it provides would make South Africa more appealing for future investment. "The establishment of these new services should assist to further enhance our country’s attractiveness as an investment destination," he said.
The offices for the Invest SA One Stop Shop will be housed at Trade and Industry KwaZulu-Natal. There will also be satellite offices at the Dube Trade Port which has been established and another which is under construction at the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone.