Pretoria - The Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism in Mpumalanga will kick-off its public consultation drive on the provincial Economic Growth and Development Path on Tuesday.
The objectives of the proposed Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Path focus on job creation, reduction of poverty and inequalities.
It envisaged to create 720 000 jobs by 2020 and the main economic sectors that will support the growth potential of agriculture and forestry, mining and energy as well as tourism and cultural industries.
The Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Department is mandated to drive and lead this mammoth task.
Departmental MEC, Norman Mokoena today met the provincial leadership of the Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu) at Emalahleni to engage them on the Economic Growth and Development Strategy.
The MEC's meeting with COSATU was to highlight the silent features of the draft document which will be used as a basis of consultation.
The draft Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Path (MEGDP) spells out a vision for "an inclusive and equitable economy that supports an improved quality of life for all the people of Mpumalanga."
The draft document further outlines a set of strategic choices and potential paths that will lead towards a growing sustainable Mpumalanga Economy which is projected to provide economic opportunities and work.
Recent research conducted shows that provincial economy can create jobs in sectors such as infrastructure development, mining, agriculture, tourism, green and knowledge-based sectors, rural development, the services sector as well as the social economy and the public sector.
Deputy Director of media relations in the department, Maakadikwe Selvy Mohlala said: "We have acknowledged that as a province we are still faced by serious challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
"The provincial government has to work harder, smarter at a faster pace to change the lives of the poor.
"There is a need to see a visible improvement in the delivery of water, electricity, health care, education, social security, civic services, safety and security and a host of other basic needs."
Mohlala said the growth path has clear pillars of the provincial economy, the actions that needs to be taken and set of targets spelled out.
However, for the provincial growth path to succeed, Mohlala said there is a need of a social partnership between government, business and labour to make a commitment in doing what is required to achieve the objectives.
According to the provincial socio-economic report, special focus must be placed on how to deal with the matters of youth unemployment in the province. - BuaNews
