Entire Document - Chris Hani District Municipality

Municipal Local Economic Development FrameworkImplementation (KPA3)3.1 BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSTRATEGY / PLANThe philosophy underpinning the basic understanding in the of the CHDM Council inrelation to the economic trajectory of the District is that of:CHRIS HANI DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY ANNUAL REPORT 2011 / 2012“positioning the region in such a way as to maximise the economic potentials offeredby its natural endowments and making choices about where to allocate scarceresources to ensure maximum impact so that the region gets the best possibleeconomic leverage to achieve its economic and social objectives”Based on this understanding, the economic development vision and strategic intentof the District is determined as follows:CHDMEconomicDevelopmentVisionRegionalEconomicStrategicIntentStrategicDifferentiationThe District grows and develops through social partnerships so that allpeople benefit from the economy and have equitable access to socialservicesMaximise the economic value and job creation potential of the Districtthrough a focus on the strengthening of the comparative advantages ofpriority sectors and creating a distinctive competitive advantage in thetimber and livestock production and processing sectorsPrioritisation of timber and livestock sectors and the allocation of dedicatedfunds and resources to create a distinctive competitive advantage orstrategic differentiation for the DistrictTo drive this broad vision of the District, the 2006 Growth and Development Summit (GDS)identified the following as the priority sectors for economic growth in the District:• Agriculture and agro-processing• Forestry and wood processing• Tourism• Construction• Manufacturing• Trade and business servicesTo give meaning and to effect the vision of Council, in 2009, the CHDM Councilapproved the Chris Hani Regional Economic Development Strategy (CHREDS)as the principal plan to guide all economic activities undertaken within the Districtarea.LED Institutional Arrangements and CapacityTo implement this strategy, the Council approved an organogram which would put inplace the LED Unit. The LED Unit is housed in the Integrated Planning and EconomicDevelopment Directorate (IPED) of the CHDM and currently has a staff complement82