Gauteng growth plan launched

Johannesburg, 07 Apr 2005

Gauteng`s Growth and Development Strategy (GDS), featuring growth of the ICT industry as a key factor, has been officially launched in Sandton.

Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa said in launching the GDS yesterday that the strategy aims to "ensure a shared and transformed economy through creating linkages between the first and second economy".

Among other things, the GDS is intended to provide "a coherent perspective on growth and development in Gauteng for the next 10 years". The government hopes the strategy will help the province achieve a growth rate of 8% by 2014.

The strategy was developed together with business, labour and other stakeholders, and targets six key growth sectors that will receive focused support and investment. These include "smart industries" such as the ICT industry.

Shilowa has frequently highlighted the importance of ICT in the province`s growth.

Speaking at the official opening of the Innovation Hub Science Park this week, the premier said: "Boosting technological innovation in the hi-tech and knowledge-intensive sector, which the Innovation Hub is designed to achieve, will be crucial in achieving global competitiveness and providing a specialised home for both local and international business.

"The benefits of technological innovation and knowledge-intensive industries will not only favour our economic development but also our social development."

He added that quality education and skills development would continue to be key drivers of innovation and the knowledge economy. Shilowa also highlighted the government`s commitment to science and technology education through initiatives such as the Scibono discovery centre, GautengOnline and the Smart Young Minds entrepreneurship project.

The premier said the provincial government would conduct road shows to outline the GDS strategy in detail and for organisations to give input on how they would go about implementing the strategy.