Our partnership with Tongaat Hulett (PTY) LTD through Operation Vuselela to support small scale sugar cane farmers is yielding results. Since its inception in 2009 about 242 permanent jobs have been created while 1, 100 seasonal opportunities were created.
Following the success of the Gijima initiative, the Gijima KZN Local Competitiveness Fund II which is 100% funded by government was relaunched in the province. We are currently reviewing our selection criteria in order to ensure that we take on board as many qualifying projects as possible. Meanwhile R59 million has been set aside for this programme for the next three year.
The entrepreneurship conference which we announced last year will now be held in June and its focus will be altered as to also incorporate investment promotion into our province. The gathering now dubbed as KZN Investment & Entrepreneurship Conference will be a must attend for all those who are or want to become serious economic players within the SADC region.
About 550 individuals from different sectors, mainly savings and credit cooperatives were trained in cooperative governance, business management and technical skills. This was collaboration with the Department of Transport (DOT) which resulted in capacitating 81 staff with skills to help them drive the Zibambele and Vukuzakhe Programmes. In addition, 36 members of the Taxi Associations affiliated to the KZN Taxi Council were trained to be able to establish Savings and Credit Cooperatives as well.
Late last year the Department launched the KwaZuluNatal Tooling Initiative (KZNTI) which is the second initiative in the country to establish its own tooling and foundry office in line with IPAP recommendations.
Meanwhile the Film Commission Act has been enacted and we will be very soon announcing the names of commissioners to serve on this commission which is expected to position the province as an ideal location for film makers which is crucial in boosting the tourism sector.
The New Growth Path puts a target of 250, 000 jobs to be created by 2020.
towards the national target.
Then, one of the important operations of the board is to undertake scientific research on various sharks species and their relationship to the overall marine life and as well as looking at possible new technology to repel sharks without nets in the future. The continuing research therefore requires additional allocation of funds.