March 30, 2011. Ilembe Municipality and Enterprise iLembe are hosting a business investor summit at Ebandla Hotel and Conference Centre, Ballito over March 30 and 31.
In attendance were the likes of Mayor SW Mdabe, CEO of Enterprise iLembe Kanyi Gasa, Municipal Manager Mike Newton, KZN Regional Co-Manager of the IDC Manoj Seonath, CEO of the iLembe Chamber Trenley Tilbrook, Zamo Gwala of TIKZN, ACSA’s Terence Delomoney, local business representatives, Ithala representatives, tourism and hospitality roleplayers and other interested parties.
In the picture: Trenley Tilbrook, who heads the recently formed iLembe Chamber, with Terence Delomoney, General Manager of King Shaka International Airport.
According to Mayor SW Mdabe, the point of the summit was to – against the backdrop of national government’s stated prioritisation of job creation to fight the tide of unemployment and improve standards of living – highlight the opportunities in the region and programmes initiated by the Ilembe area to drive growth and sustainable employment opportunities in the area.
Gasa identified agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and the IT sector as potential growth areas while highlighting the progress her organisation is making in line with its stated objectives of empowerment, equity and creating meaningful, long-term employment (and training), while bringing investment into the area.
Opportunities
Gasa highlighted the importance of providing the “hinterland” communities in the district with work and business opportunities to stimulate growth and economic activity, stressing that there was “so much to be done, but there are also many opportunities for business”.
Other speakers on day one of the summit included Tilbrook and Seonath, Tilbrook speaking on how business could better partner with government, while Seonath highlighted the history and functions of the IDC, and discussed how to access business finance.
A recurring theme of the discussions was about the need for partnerships, about sustainability in growth initiatives and employment opportunities and the need to make Ilembe a “World Class African Destination”. – Staff Reporter