SA's third InvestSA office to open shop in KZN

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

President Jacob Zuma is expected to launch the third InvestSA One Stop Shop in KwaZulu-Natal later this week.

The KwaZulu-Natal One Stop Shop will be the third one in the country to be launched by President Zuma on Saturday.

In a joint statement on Monday, the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development and Tourism said the launch will take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

The aim of the provincial Invest SA One Stop Shop is to provide strategic guidance, reduce regulatory inefficiencies, and reduce red tape for all investors looking to invest in KwaZulu-Natal.

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said the value-proposition for the provincial One Stop Shops is the co-ordination and incorporation of the special economic zones, provincial investment agencies, local authorities and the relevant government departments involved in regulatory, registration, permits and licensing matters.

"South Africa has excellent investment opportunities in all sectors of the economy and a host of investment incentives and industrial financing interventions that are aimed at encouraging commercial activity and, trade rules that favour a further expansion in South Africa's burgeoning levels of international trade," said Minister Davies.

The departments also added that the processes leading to Saturday’s launch are an example of collaboration between different levels of government, with the centre to be jointly operated by the dti with the provincial government and KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu said the facility will go a long way in facilitating foreign direct investment.

"Our long term vision is to become a prosperous province with a healthy, secure and skilled population and acting as a gateway to Africa and the world. As guided by the Provincial Growth and Development Plan, we are focusing on different sectors of the economy such as maritime, drilling of oil and gas and chemical manufacturing.

“We continue to invite potential investors representing these sectors, from other parts of the globe, and directing them to all corners of the province including the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone and the Dube Trade Port," said the Premier.

President Zuma formally announced the establishment of InvestSA in the State of the Nation Address and also informed business leaders of the initiative in February 2016.

President Zuma launched the national Invest SA One Stop Shop for investors at the premises of the dti in Tshwane in March. This was followed by the launch of the provincial One Stop Shop office in the Western Cape in early September.

The InvestSA One Stop Shop is a government programme that aims to prioritise and promote investment in South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za