Following the first meeting of the Mayor meets Business Initiative at the end of 2016, a series of follow-up meetings are taking place with various sectors and stakeholders to help this initiative move forward.
The main purpose of this initiative is to create a space for open dialogue between various business sector stakeholders in the greater Stellenbosch area, and the Municipality. We want to engage with local business stakeholders to discuss strategies to stimulate and support the local and regional economy. It also serves to sensitise the administration to business decision-making, enabling it to become proactive and help to reduce investment risks.
The Mayor, members of the Mayoral Committee and the Directors of the Municipality recently met with the representatives from the property development sector for an informal discussion on expectations and challenges they experience in the greater Stellenbosch area. As the forum progress, we hope to establish a climate of administrative certainty and strategic engagement with participants who may impact our towns economically and socially.
The challenges so far for the forum has been the correct grouping of the various sectors as well as determining which sectors overlap and which sectors stand alone.
Another meeting with various sectors is scheduled for later this month. The feedback I have received from the meetings thus far, is positive and very optimistic. As we move forward, I will continuously work to balance the interests of our residents, interest groups and businesses so that we can grow a positive economy aimed and creating sustainable jobs as well as provide solutions to the many challenges we face. I am excited about the willingness of big and small businesses that want to work with us as a local government to make sure we provide our residents with the best opportunities for the future.