Debate on the EDTEA Report

Hon. Speaker, The Minority Front welcomes this report by the Hon. MEC of EDTEA, highlighting a few but remarkable accomplishments given the brutal blows to economies globally, by continuous disasters.
The need of the hour in KZN is “ideation” concepts in terms of KZN’s land, natural and human resources.
Unemployment amongst Indian and Coloured black minorities is growing in terms of ground reality. DSD’s population research programme has to focus on such targeted challenge areas where bottlenecks require intervention that unlocks capacity and capabilities in an inclusive way. Everyone has something to contribute, Hon. members; hence the envisaged amendments to the EEA needs more thought from us all to spur economic growth in KZN.
Hon. MEC, its important for EDTEA to produce a magazine titled “KwaZulu Natal Business” which must be placed in our planes and elsewhere, similar to Tourism magazines. Such a magazine will attract investors and motivate locals in terms of “innovating with intent” in KZN.
Entrepreneurs need continuous knowledge about government’s economic programmes and offers on topics of the digital economy, sustainable packaging and waste management, board governance, corporate tax, success stories of government funded SME’s, development of low-carbon hydrogen industry (many youth have approached me about such government initiatives).
We need a review of NGO’s and encourage them to work towards climate risk; we need to monitor climate asset tokenism with respect to businesses selling carbon credits; more work needs to be done on redefining the agile workplace of the future. This means “art works” are required to provoke thought or even start a conversation.
Hon. MEC, the time is opportune to learning from failures, as well as our racial past. We can learn adaptation from successful retail industries that have triumphed from disruptions.
There’s so much that can be done to save and power KZN’s economy by empowering its people, Hon. members. These need productive partnerships in all areas mentioned in this debate and the Minority Front calls for regular KZN business conferences in all districts to address all available opportunities.