City and Region A business community strengthen ties

20 July 2015

 

The business community in Johannesburg’s Region A has joined forces with the City of Johannesburg’s Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) Department, the City’s Department of Economic Development as well as the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) to form a regional business forum to promote and advance business and economic growth.

 

The Region A Business Forum, as it is called, was established after a business indaba held in Rabie Ridge last week.

Region A includes areas such as Midrand, Midrand CBD, Dainfern, Diepsloot, Kya Sands, Lanseria, Fourways, Kyalami, Halfway Gardens, Ebony Park and Ivory Park.

 

Pierre Nel, CRUM Manager in the Office of the City Manager, said last week’s business indaba provided the ideal platform to inform business stakeholders of a number of important policies and share with them the dynamics of the region’s business environment.

 

“The Department of Economic Development presented the City’s economic vision and development policy, explaining the identified development nodes in the City as well as the City’s interaction with the business community. The business organisations also had the opportunity to introduce themselves and explain what their aims and functions were and who they represented. The delegates decided to form the Region A Business Forum after intense discussions regarding the state of business and the economy in the region,” said Nel.

 

He said delegates represented a wide spectrum of business organisations across the region. “The Region A Business Forum was formed based on several principles, the first being the promotion of continuous contact on a quarterly basis between the region and organised business,” Nel said.

 

Other principles included the following:

• The need to identify problem areas and challenges;

• Networking and continuous sharing of information on programmes, projects, strategies and policies relating to business; and

• The understanding that the forum will act as “a complementing force” involved in undertaking relevant projects and activities jointly with the City.

 

Regional Director Abigail Ndlovu expressed delight at the establishment of the forum as well as at being part of “a region with such a dynamic, innovative and dedicated business community”.

 

“We look forward to working with our local business people to improve the quality of life of all the people in our region,” Ndlovu said.