What is economic development?
Economic development is the development of wealth in countries or regions for the well-being of their inhabitants. From a policy perspective, economic development can be defined as efforts that seek to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community by creating and retaining jobs, supporting incomes, and growing the tax base.
In line with this definition, the City of Tshwane determines the best efforts to engage, to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for its community.
Introduction
The closeness of Tshwane to a number of modern airports and important rail and road links makes it ideal for business and for import and export. Tshwane is highly regarded for its manufacturing, technology, electronics, defence design and construction sectors. It offers unequalled business opportunities and a well-developed, dynamic infrastructure, allowing all types of business to prosper and grow. The city is highly competitive and is an investment location with extensive economic opportunities in manufacturing and trade.
Vision
To be a globally competitive metropolitan economy that empowers all communities to prosper.
Mission
To create an enabling environment to reach the objective to contribute to the acceleration of a higher and shared economic growth and development of the Tshwane economy by –
- providing leadership and facilitate strategic partnerships in economic development to ensure competitiveness, growth, job creation and poverty eradication as anticipated by the Tshwane Growth and Development Strategy (TGDS) and City Development Strategy (CDS) through:
- SMME and Co-operatives Development;
- Export Market Development & Trade Promotion;
- Investment Attraction and Business Retention;
- Business and Informal Trade Regulation;
- Economic Infrastructure Development;
- Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment;
- Sector Development and Support; and
- Gender Mainstreaming and Development.
- developing and maintaining an accessible transport system of a high standard, enabling the community to share in the prosperity of an orderly, growing, globally competitive city;
- establishing unique trade centers where price forming in and trading of agricultural products take place to the mutual benefit of suppliers, buyers and consumers; and
- developing a unique tourist destination that attracts all segments of the tourism market with the aim to create more employment opportunities, both direct and indirect, to enlarge the impact on the second economy communities
Structure
The Department of Economic Development consists of the following sub sections:
- Office of the Executive Director;
- Economic Policy and Business Programmes;
- Enterprise Development; and
- Industrial Development, Trade, and Investment Facilitation.
Strategic Objectives of the Department
The Economic Development Department supports all five Strategic Objectives of the City of Tshwane, namely:
- Provide quality basic services and infrastructure;
- Facilitate higher and shared economic growth and development;
- Fight poverty, build clean, healthy, safe and sustainable communities;
- Foster participatory democracy and Batho Pele principles through a caring, accessible and accountable service; and
- Ensure good governance, financial viability and optimal institutional transformation with capacity to execute its mandate.
Doing Business in Tshwane
Tshwane’s most important assets are its strategic location, favourable climate, accessibility of affordable industrial sites, existing industries, office space in the city, education and research facilities, and an extensive labour market.
Tshwane is a proven leader in the field of education, research and technology, electronics and information technology, and defence design and construction. An estimated 85% to 90% of all research and development in South Africa is conducted here by institutions such as Armscor, the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and educational institutions such as the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the University of Pretoria.
The BITTS Centre (Business, Investment, Trade and Tourism Support Centre) is the first step in promoting business with the nation’s capital. Whether you consider an investment, trade transaction, joint venture, technology transfer or tourism opportunity, the BITTS Centre offers information and advice on services and support.
The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM) has prioritised the strategic national goals of job creation and sustainable growth. However, these goals cannot be realised without the creation of growth-oriented small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs).
An information centre has been set up in the Sammy Marks Square on the corner of Prinsloo and Church Streets to help establish SMMEs and support aspiring entrepreneurs. Informal trade is particularly important as it ensures the survival of large numbers of people who do not draw an income from the formal employment sector.
The Economic Development Department consists of the following Offices, Divisions and Units: