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"LAUNCH OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME"

The Chairperson
The Prime Minister of Swaziland
Minister Sumbana of Mozambique
Minister Valli Moosa
Colleagues
Distinguished Guests

Today represents the culmination of several years of hard work. Thirty six months ago our government, together with the governments of Swaziland and Mozambique set out to create the proper conditions for the creation, among other things, of a thriving tourism sector in the Lubombo region.

As my colleagues have described, we have, since the launch of this initiative, established a track record of delivery. The Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative has become a prime example of our three governments' commitment to the provision of a better life, through taking development to the people, in a co-ordinated fashion, what we call Integrated Rural Development.

I am deeply honoured to join with my colleagues this morning in launching the investment projects prepared under the banner of the Lubombo SDI. It is also a great pleasure to welcome all our visitors who have come to share in the occasion. I hope that many of you will participate in the further development of this bold initiative.

We have committed well over R630-million already. We are also committed to support the continued roll out of the support infrastructure required to ensure the success of the region and the individual projects we are launching today. We are happy that the Lubombo SDI has secured the commitment of our parastatals and other partners. Together we are developing a co-ordinated approach to support the investment opportunities being launched here today.

Good progress has been made in establishing a new modern airport in Durban and government will be taking the necessary steps in the New Year to implement the project. I believe that with the planned privatisation of the regional airport in Richards Bay, these two projects together, will ensure world-class air access to the Lubombo region.

As was demonstrated in the technical presentation, a comprehensive support programme backs the investment process. In St Lucia, the programme, including the delivery of infrastructure to all the development sites, is being rolled-out in a phased manner over five years within the framework of an official development plan and with the full support of government. The first phase valued at R55m is currently being implemented.

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, which is an SDI anchor, was listed as SA's first World Heritage Site in December last year. National legislation, the World Heritage Act has been promulgated and I can today announce that, dedicated regulations for the Greater St Lucia Wetlands were published on Friday.

They consolidate and formally proclaim the Park, establishing a dedicated, business-friendly Authority for the area. It is this Authority that is issuing the first phase of tourism tenders being launched today and establishes a secure framework for the future.

The Regulations make provision for an Integrated Development Management Plan, which structures the environmentally sound development of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and has undergone extensive public comment. The Management Plan identifies potential development sites, sets carrying capacity limits and zones visitor activities and facilities.

It also commits the Authority to a phased rollout of support infrastructure over a five-year period. The Management Plan thus provides a stable and predictable framework for investment within which the sites represent a basic development platform.

The investment opportunities being offered by Mozambique and Swaziland are individually unique and add value to the overall diversity of the Lubombo investment portfolio. They reinforce regional tourism circuits and linkages to both established and emerging destinations such as the proposed GKG Transfrontier Park, Maputaland and the Swazi Highlands.

It is against this background that I announce, with great pleasure, the launch of the Lubombo SDI investment projects.

We have worked with a top team of technical experts to select prime sites in six nodes. As you saw in the previous presentation, the opportunities on offer range from beach resorts to game lodges and exclusive Big Five concessions. We invite you now to participate in their development.

The first phase of our initiative was to create an enabling framework for the establishment of business and we believe that we have achieved this. The fundamentals for growth in the short and medium term are in place. Thus, the second phase of our initiative is to attract the critical mass of investment and expertise that we require to ensure the emergence of a vibrant regional economy in the region.

The third phase focuses on ongoing commitment and support from government to ensure the sustainability of investments, and local economic commitment.

The bidding process starts today and it will be a fair, efficient and transparent one. As per government policy, a commitment to empowerment, particularly of surrounding communities, will form part of the criteria that will used to adjudicate bids. This SDI is about improving conditions for the people who make the Lubombo region their home.

We have successfully involved local small contractors in the major construction contracts that we have awarded to date and we are currently developing a learnership programme to prepare people from the area for senior employment in the new enterprises we create.

We have undertaken extensive consultation to ensure that all stakeholders participate in the process and we remain committed to further consultation. But we are also committed to delivery and we will ensure that we continue making rapid progress.

Our governments have demonstrated our commitment to the Lubombo SDI through delivery on the ground. We have acted on our promises of the past, and we will continue to do so in future. We invite you now to join us in the building of one of Africa's prime destinations.

I thank you.

Issued by The Presidency, 30 November 2000