BY Obakeng Maje

A Provincial infrastructure development colloquium to unlock economic infrastructure delivery, accelerate growth, development and job creation is to be hosted by the Planning Commissionin the Office of North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise. The two-day roundtable is to be held as from Monday 30-31 July 2012 at Sun City Resort outside Rustenburg.

The objectives of the colloquium themed “Growth and Development Colloquim: Strategies to unlock the economic potential of the North West Province” to focus on strategic development priorities of water, energy, economic infrastructure and roads identified by Premier Modise is aimed at:

• Establishing an understanding of the significance of infrastructure development to growth and development in the province
• Exploring infrastructure development to accelerate job creation
• Laying the foundation for the development of the provincial long term plan that is aligned to the National Development Plan
• Interacting with other role players in infrastructure development

“The colloquium presents us with an opportunity to prioritise on development investment as expressed in SIP 4 and 7 of the government strategic integrated projects with a view formulate a comprehensive provincial infrastructure plan that is also aligned to our provincial industrial strategy and Special Economic Zone to maximise impact,” says Premier Mme Thandi Modise.

The keynote address by Minister of Energy, Ms Dipuo Peters on the opening day of the colloquium hosted in partnership with Development Bank of Southern Africa will focus on the relevance of the energy sector and the importance of energy planning.

In addition to a presentation to be delivered by Mr. Pascal Moloi from the National Planning Commission, other presentations by various public and private partners including academia in plenary and commissions will cover:

• Water challenges and the approach towards prioritization(2030 and beyond)-Prof Mike Muller from Wits University
• Water for growth and development :Overcoming the challenges, , -Ms Zandile Mathe (DDG National Water Resources infrastructure in the Department of Water Affairs)
• Renewable energy-Dr William Stafford ( CSIR
• Conventional energy sources-Dr Senzio Myeni(Corporate Specialist, Business Sciences at Eskom)
•  towards sustainable energy provision and challenges of climate change-Dr Gary Kendall(Programme for Sustainable Leadership South Africa),
• The benefit of economic Infrastructure to the province’s competitive advantage -Dr. Khathutshelo Sikhitha(Senior Economist Department of Economic Development
•   The potential labour absorptive capacity of infrastructure development-Mr Richard Goode(Lead Sector Strategy Specialist :Infrastructure Planning at DBSA)
• Unlocking the challenge of grant funded municipal infrastructure development-Ms Santhurie Naidoo (Executive manager Economic And Infrastructure Development Branch Dept of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs)
• Conceptualising economic infrastructure for rural development-Ms Leona Archary (DDG: Infrastructure and Economic Development from Department of Rural Development)

Premier Modise will also deliver the keynote address at the networking dinner to be on Monday evening.

Members of the media are invited to cover the colloquium. Kindly RSVP with Francoiz Davids @ 082 305 1765 or fdavids@nwpg.gov.za before 12:00 on Thursday for accreditation (media only)