Modern, Growing, Successful Province

Brics Investors Conference Statement

A resolution taken at the last BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, states that: “BRICS is ready to explore new areas towards a comprehensive cooperation and closer economic partnership to facilitate market inter-linkages, financial integration, and infrastructure connectivity as well as people-to-people contacts”.

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In response to this, the Northern Cape Provincial Government, through the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, took the initiative to host a highly successful BRICS Expo and International Trade and Investment Conference over the past three days, from the 29th to the 31st of October 2014. This conference and expo was attended by over 900 people, with delegates from BRICS and other countries, ranging from corporates in different sectors, NGO’s, SMMEs, Mining houses, Funding institutions and international, national, provincial and local government delegations. We can emphatically declare that we have reached and surpassed our own objectives and expectations. Government, in fulfilling its constitutional mandate of creating a conducive environment for economic development, convened this conference to ensure the Province is positioned as an investment destination for Brazil, Russia, India and China.

This expo and investors conference is a direct response to what we have committed ourselves to do when I delivered the State of the Province Address on 26 June 2014, when I said, “Socio-Economic transformation will assume centre stage during our new term as we put the economy on an inclusive growth path”.

Our participation in the BRICS investment Conference provided a platform for the Northern Cape Province to showcase its immense investment opportunities and to expand market access to the Northern Cape exporters.

The conference has two main focus areas, namely the BRICS Think-Tank and the BRICS Business Council.

The BRICS- Think Tank: Research, Development and Innovation.

We are the province that is well known as being a “Province of Firsts”.

The representative for the BRICS Think Tank has indicated that he would like to commend  the Northern Cape Province  for initiating this collaboration and that this is the first Province to take such an initiative. The research alliance would focus on the Province’s priority industries such as mining and agriculture. The collaboration would also ensure that key stakeholders in the Northern Cape would be included in the activities of the BRICS Think Tank especially within the areas of Economic Development and Social Justice. The initiation of student exchange programmes with other BRIC countries will create opportunities to implement the objectives of the skills development agenda of the Province. This will be especially beneficial to the youth.

The BRICS intelligentsia is a powerful “knowledge hub”, which can provide support for the formulation of the Provincial Development Plan, the revision of the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy of the Northern Cape, the development of a Provincial Industrial Policy Action Plan and the establishment of the Provincial Planning Commission.

BRICS – Think Tank: Business Council

The BRICS Business Council is one of the most important mechanisms for BRICS cooperation. As the “Declaration on the establishment of the BRICS Business Council” states, “The BRICS Business Council will constitute a platform which will strengthen and promote economic, trade, business and investment ties among the Business communities of the five BRICS countries.

During the discussions with the BRICS Business Council, a resolution was taken to create a provincial structure, which will enable the Province to engage with the business council through its various working streams such as the infrastructure, energy and skills development.

The conference made provision for the engagement of stakeholders in various breakaway sessions:

The focus of the break-away sessions was in the areas of

 

  • Mining
  • Agriculture
  • Infrastructure
  • Renewable Energy
  • Tourism
  • Knowledge Economy

It is important to note that the unpacking of these sectors was underpinned by four pillars:

  • Job Creation
  • Rural Development
  • Localisation
  • And Manufacturing

Subsequent to the discussion and deliberations, the following resolutions were adopted at this conference:

1.  Renewable Energy

  • A trade and Investment portal will be created to address the issue to information.
  • An SMME workshop linking SMMEs to the growing energy sector in the province.
  • We endorse Minister Joemat-Petterson’s commitment of prioritising localisation and economic development in our province.
  • The Renewable Energy Centre of Excellence (RECE), will be backed by research and development, which will also focus on empowering our Youth and address skills shortages in the province.
  • We will continue our culture of alliance partnerships with our BRICS stakeholders and invite investors to support the establishment of the Special Economic Zone within the Solar Corridor.

2.  Mining

  • There are packaged Manganese and Diamond projects ready for joint ventures with BRICS partners.
  • Our local entrepreneurs to participate with BRICS as global trade investment partners.

3. Tourism

  • Establish the Kimberley Adventure Sport Resort that the BRICS countries are interested in and develop BRICS related Tourism investment packages.

4.  Agriculture

  • The BRICS Think – Tank has committed to collaborate with the Northern Cape to address the gap that has been identified in Agricultural research.
  • The Melkstroom Agricultural Village has been identified as an initiative to link the Youth and the Renewable and Agricultural Sectors.

5.  Knowledge Economy

  • SKA will collaborate with the Northern Cape and conduct workshops to highlight opportunities for localisation and manufacturing to benefit the SMMEs in the Province.

We are proud to announce that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed today, 31 October 2014, between the TSANTSABANE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY AND XIANGXI AUTONOMOUS PREFECTURE. The purpose of this MOU is to collaborate in various forms in the fields of economy, minerals, culture, education, tourism and any field of mutual benefit that will promote common prosperity and development.

CONCLUSION

Our commitment towards a radical economic transformation has been formalized as a critical theme of the Medium Term Strategic Framework 2014 – 2019.

Hosting the BRICS Expo and Investor’s Conference in the Province, is indeed evident that the people of the Northern Cape are determined to re-write their history of economic struggle and strengthening our alliance and expanding it to the BRICS partners.

As the Government of the Northern Cape and its people, we would like to thank our international guests from BRIC countries for their unwavering commitment towards inclusive economic development.

We also wish to thank all participants in this ground-breaking and historic conference, and all the stakeholders and sponsors that made this event such a resounding success.

Mail Us

Office of the Premier 
Private Bag X5016 
Kimberley 
8301

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