KWAZULU-NATAL WORKING TOGETHER TO TAKE SOUTH AFRICA FORWARD

KwaZulu-Natal is ready to lead the whole country to greater heights. We are united in our resolve that, working together in our respective sectors in politics, business, religion, traditional affairs and all other spheres of governance, we are taking South Africa forward.

President Jacob Zuma has declared the year 2011 as the year for job creation as he announced several measures to ensure that the primary focus of government this year is the creation of decent work. According to the framework document, "The New Growth Path must provide bold, imaginative and effective strategies to create the millions of new jobs South Africa needs. It must also lay out a dynamic vision for how we can collectively achieve a more developed, democratic, cohesive and equitable economy and society in the mediumterm, in the context of sustained growth."

"It will require leadership and strong governance. It takes account of the new opportunities that are available to us, the strengths we have and constraints we face..."

With the KwaZulu-Natal Province being the second largest contributor to the National GDP and hosting 10,6 million or 21% of the RSA population, achieving the objectives of the National Growth Path depends strongly on the performance of this Province. We in KwaZulu-Natal will have to contribute at least 1.1 million of the national target of five million new jobs. Achieving this target is going to require a targeted approach, focusing on the key drivers of the economy that will be capable of delivering and sustaining new employment opportunities.

The job creation targets set by the President will require creativity and partnership of government, business, labour and civil society in general as we consider opportunities in the green economy created by the need to respond to climatic change and the relationships our country has with the developing economies on the African continent and other parts of the world.We believe that unity and working together in partnership is absolutely critical for the province's economy to continue to grow.

We are ready to play our role to shape the future of this country.

The Honourable Premier of Kwaulu-Natal Province
Zweli Mkhize