Invest SA One Stop Shop business seminar

Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) recently held a business seminar to showcase the Invest SA One Stop Shop. Organised by the Trade & Investment KwaZulu-NatalÂ’s (TIKZN) Gauteng Office, the event was attended by diplomats and Gauteng- based business leaders and investors, who came to hear what KwaZulu-Natal has to offer as an investment destination through the Invest SA One Stop Shop (OSS).
 
Neville Matjie, TIKZN Chief Executive Officer outlined what it entails to do business in KwaZulu-Natal through the OSS. “One of the key considerations when choosing an investment destination, is red tape. If processes are quick and agile, investors are more likely to bring investments to a specific location. The One Stop Shop plays a crucial role in helping reduce red tape, which makes it easy for investors to decide on KwaZulu-Natal as the destination they want to invest in,” he said.
 
Since the launch of the OSS in September 2017, the facility has improved the investor service experience through increased collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), national departments and the provincial partners. The facility enjoys support from the highest structure in government to ensure it maintains its mandate and delivers investment facilitation services on a consistent basis to the investor community.
 
Speaking at the seminar, Tiago Leslie Fick, Director: Special Projects at the DTIC, praised TIKZN for having the best performing OSS facility in the country. “They have been engaging in active funding partnerships, various catalytic projects and they are the first to implement One Stop Shop facilities at the district level.” TIKZN has established OSS offices in collaboration with strategic partners; the Dube TradePort and uMgungundlovu Economic Development Agency, and an OSS in partnership with Enterprise iLembe Economic Development Agency due to be launched soon. These OSS are in key economic development nodes, namely eThekwini Metro, King Cetshwayo District and the iLembe District respectively. “This is groundbreaking work. As a matter of fact, we are using KZN as best practice in our engagements with other One Stop Shops in other provinces,” added Fick.
 
Ndumiso Mlambo, OSS Manager at TIKZN shared the successes of the KZN One Stop Shops, including facilitating a number of catalytic projects including a R1.6 billion tourism development.
 
Seminar attendees from Johannesburg and countries such as Colombia, Mauritius and Italy, had the opportunity to engage directly with the presenters as well as representatives from the Department of Home Affairs present. The session served to showcase the synergy between government departments and economic development entities, all in an effort to attract and retain investments in KZN and facilitate export through the KZN OSS.  
 
Moderator Thulisile Galelekile, TIKZN Executive Manager: Strategy and Operations concluded the seminar with and uplifting message about the residence of KZN which has endured some adverse events in the recent past. “For every downfall and shortcoming, there is an even stronger come back. There is a dedication to survival and a people determined to rebuild KwaZulu-Natal, the place they call home.”