The City of Tshwane has a balanced and diverse industrial economy
that includes enterprises in the information and communications
technology, steel, pharmaceuticals and electronics industries. The
vision that the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality has for
the city is of it being the leading African capital, a city of excellence
that empowers its community to prosper in a safe and healthy environment.
One of the objectives the Municipality has set itself is to act
as a channel through which bilateral trade agreements with other
regions of the world can be concluded, investors and investment
can be attracted and new markets can be opened up.
Tshwane currently boasts one of the healthiest municipalities financially.
The credit ratings it received from CA-Ratings are proof: The A+
long-term credit rating it was given means that Tshwane has a strong
outlook, and the A short-term rating that it is stable. The ratings
are based on the city's ability to meet its long-term commitments,
on its short-term liquidity and on its level of administrative,
executive and political stability.
The Municipality has reached several milestones, the most important
being the approval of the Tshwane 2020 Integrated Growth and Development
Strategy. The strategy proposes certain restructuring and alternative
service delivery options for improving the quality of life of all
the city's residents. With it, the Municipality is also aiming to
boost investment in the city and increase economic growth. The strategy
will gradually transform and reshape Tshwane's economy and geography
so that the city can become a world-class business centre with services
and living standards that are on a par with those of most other
capital cities in the developed world.
Among the initiatives in which the Municipality is involved is
Blue IQ, the spatial development initiative of the Gauteng Provincial
Government that focuses on technology, high-value-added manufacturing,
transport and tourism drives to secure Gauteng's position as the
economic heartland of South Africa.
Tshwane is a key node in South Africa's automotive industry. According
to figures published by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers
of South Africa, almost 40 per cent of our passenger vehicles are
manufactured in the Tshwane area (three major automotive manufacturers
and assemblers are located within the city's boundaries).
With Tshwane being an automotive centre, the Municipality's Local
Economic Development Division has embarked on a series of initiatives
in partnership with players in the local automotive industry. An
automotive cluster has, for example, been formed, involving original-equipment
manufacturers, automotive component manufacturers, the CSIR and
the provincial and national governments.
The Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) has been one
of the spin-offs of the collaboration and cluster initiatives. The
AIDC is focusing on increasing global competitiveness and expanding
local automotive resources. It will link up with international technology
organisations such as the Warwick Manufacturing Group of Britain
and the German Fraunhofer Institute.
