Greater focus on KZN industrialisation

THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs had heightened its focus on industrialising the province in order to increase manufacturing.

The department’s spokesman Bongani Tembe yesterday said it had prioritised special economic zones, industrial parks and non-conventional sectors such as maritime, aero- tropolis and the green economy as a means to avert the impact of the current recession.

Tembe said the measures would enable the department to preserve jobs and protect key areas of the economy.

“The department understands that a recession is not an event that occurs when economic growth numbers are released, but rather a process that develops over a period of time as a result of persistent economic conditions.”