DURBAN - PRACTICAL solutions to challenge the unemployment rate and inequalities were needed to grow the economy in the province.
This was the sentiment of eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, who spoke on Thursday at the Township and Rural Investment Summit at Max’s Lifestyle Conference Centre.
The summit, held through the municipality’s Economic Development and Planning Cluster, was aimed at providing the thrust for expanding investment promotion into the townships and rural areas.
“If communities can take ownership of the businesses and infrastructure where they live they would be able to protect it and sustain it.”
Kaunda said they were moving with speed to create an inclusive economy and ensure residents felt empowered through investments made in their areas.
“We have established different plans. We cannot push all these programmes without having institutional mechanisms to ensure the decisions taken are well-informed and of the aspirations of the people of the city.”
He said catalytic projects monitored how to advance jobs.
He said township economies should be characterised by industrialisation.
“We are an embarrassing nation that is a port city but not producing. All we do is import goods left and right. We let our ships be used to transport everything from shoes to caps. A balance cannot be addressed if we do not inject the necessary growth that will enable us to export, rather than import everything that we can produce. We need to start producing.”
Daily News