Mid Term Report - Gauteng Online

3.1 EnABlInG FASTER EConomICGRoWTH AnD JoB CREATIonThe provincial government has prioritised sharedeconomic growth as the key factor in achievingits development goals. The aim has beento build on the province’s economic successes andensure that more of our people actively participate inand benefi t from wealth creation. Sustained economicgrowth is central to tackling poverty, creatingjobs, expanding access to quality social servicesand generally improving people’s quality of life.Key challengesAmong the key challenges in 2004 which the fi veyear programme set out to address were the following:• Consolidate the restructuring of the economyand support the growth of a knowledge-basedeconomy as well as addressing the consequences,including job loss, in declining sectors suchas mining.• Translate economic growth into employmentgrowth, including through the promotion oflabour absorbing and value adding sectors.• Recognise that different strategies are required tocreate sustainable employment in different partsof our province and for different sectors of ourcommunities such as the long term unemployed,youth and women.• Align our economic and spatial developmentstrategies so that all sectors and areas of ourprovince contribute to growing a single economy.• Pay attention to sustainable or clean productionprocesses and the use of renewable energy toprotect the environment for future generations.We also need to address our negative environmentallegacy, particularly that left by the miningsector.• Ensure broad based black economic empower-ment and the development of strategies aimedat strengthening small and medium and microenterprises, including those owned by womenand people with disabilities.• Integrate technological advances into our workprocesses and society in ways which will bebenefi cial to all. We will promote research anddevelopment to enhance creativity and innovation.• Develop and attract the skills that our economy requiresand address the impact of the HIV and AIDSepidemic on productivity and the skills supply.• Build our competitive advantage in the worldwhile enhancing our trade relationships withAfrica in particular.• Expand the partnerships we have with the privatesector to further leverage government spendingand increase direct investment in targeted areas.Key commitmentsThe priority actions and programmes identifi ed for2004-2009 included the following:• Enabling, supporting and investing in:– Strategic economic infrastructure includingthe Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, the InnovationHub and the Johannesburg InternationalAirport Industrial Park– Labour absorbing and value adding sectorsand expanding the knowledge-basedeconomy; and– Targeted geographical areas which wouldenhance broad based economic growth andlocal economic development.• Promoting Gauteng as a preferred destination forinvestment, tourism and business and the home forcompetitive sport. We will ensure the success ofthe 2010 World Cup soccer tournament and useit as an opportunity to consolidate our preferreddestination status for investment, tourism and sport.Midterm Report - 2004/06 • 13