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Durban - KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Senzo Mchunu has reiterated his commitment to working with big business to unlock the potential of this province.
He was speaking today in his capacity as the co-chair of the KZN Growth Coalition during the executive breakfast attended by more than 300 members of the coalition.
"It was in 2005, exactly ten years ago when my predecessor Cde Sbu Ndebele officially launched the KwaZulu-Natal Growth Coalition. At that time, the ANC as the ruling party in the province took a conscious decision to form this partnership in order to drive economic growth in the province. I want to pay tribute to the former Ndebele and the former premier Dr Zweli Mkhize for laying the foundation for government to work with the private sector," said Mchunu.
"Today's gathering represents an opportune time to take stock of our mutual achievements over the past ten years, and the challenges which still confront us. We are proud that KZN is the second largest economy in SA, recording a GDP of R322bn. KZN has also been one of the fastest growing economies growing at 4% per annum between 2001 and 2005 and at 3.3% from 2006-2009 despite the recession."
The KZN economy outperformed the national economy during 2012, 2.95% vs 2.55%. This is as a result of efforts of big business working with government, said Mchunu.
"We need to do is to build on the success that we have made since the launch of the coalition ten years ago. The desired outcomes we have set in respect of the economy and job creation, is a situation where everyone who wants to work can find work, or start his or her own business."
For now he wants to half unemployment and ensure that total value of output of all sectors within the provincial economy increases from 2010 value of R267 200m to R450 000m in 2020 and to R750 000m in 2030, as measured in 2005 rand value.
"We want the total employment within the provincial economy of KZN to increase from 2.4 million in 2010, to 3.3 million in 2020 and 4.5 million in 2030. This translates to us having to create 2.1 million jobs by 2030, of which 900 000 have to be created by 2020," said Mchunu.
GDP per capita within the provincial economy of KZN should increase from R28 110 per capita in 2010, to R39 760 in 2020 and R56 230 in 2030 according to Mchunu. This implies doubling of GDP Per Capita as a target set in the National Development Plan.
"To achieve these targets, we will have to ensure that where the cost of doing business is low, attracting new and protecting existing ventures in all sectors, growing the economy and creating employment," he said.
"We recognise that we will not be able to achieve the social development, nor the economic development objectives of our Province if we do not develop our human resource capacity to its full potential. It is for these reasons that we have launched the Human Resources Development Council which will guide KZN on how to drive skills revolution in the province."
He is focused on the whole education continuum, starting with early childhood development, through school and adult basic education, as well as artisan and technical training, and higher education rendered at tertiary education level.
