Region
Africa
KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa

Sector
Food & Beverages
Sport
Tourism & Leisure

Summary:

Business opportunities in a number of economic sectors in KwaZulu-Natal have been identified for future business leaders.

Contact
Boyce Mntambo

Email
mntambob@kznded.gov.za

Tel
+27 31 310 5300
Fax
+27 31 310 5423

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has described some of the opportunities that have become available in the following sectors as a result of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.

• Food and beverages – sales of beer and other drinks: producers in KZN have agricultural resources to draw from and have access to international markets
• Tourism – the industry is worth over R3.3-billion in KZN, and nationally contributes 7% to GDP, a figure expected to growth to 12% by 2014 – the number of tourists arriving in South Africa last year increased by over 10% to 8.4-million; but this growth can only be maintained if more young people get involved
• ICT – during the tournament, young people should be involved in the provision of cabling to stadia, copper wire for networks, and the installation of communication points and ISDN and Internet connections.

As the economic growth of the province was linked to the development and empowerment of young people, Mkhize said that the government had taken a decision to ensure that young people were properly empowered and skilled to be able to take advantage of the economic spin-offs of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, and was committed to supporting youth-owned SMMEs and cooperatives.

Mkhize indicated that the provincial government had ensured that its procurement prescripts and strategies were designed in such a way that it was able to spend more aggressively driving youth empowerment programmes and BEE. He said that efforts to inculcate a culture of entrepreneurship would bear fruit only if more emerging entrepreneurs exhibited their services at events such as the Tourism Indaba and international trade and investment conferences and exhibitions. These events have attracted national and international attention and were excellent marketing platforms for young entrepreneurs.

For more information on government youth empowerment programmes and related business opportunities, please contact the KZN Department of Economic Development: