Young Durbanites set to ‘shape’ our economic future

THREE young leaders will represent Durban and thousands of young people at the World Economic Forum in the city next month.

The Global Shapers Durban Hub has selected 25-year-old Simthe Sibhayi, Amanda Mathe and Justice Matarutse, both 28, to engage the forum about how an inclusive economy can rest in the hands of the youth.

Sibhayi is a community and development studies masters candidate at the University of Kwazulu-natal, while Mathe is the managing director of Ndlovukazi Online Media. Matarutse is a policy and advocacy manager at the Durban Chamber of Commerce.

The three went through a “stringent” selection process, according to the hub. China’s economic slowdown.

But some countries on the continent were enjoying growth of 6% or more a year, and their foreign direct investment was on the rise.

South Africa was the only G20 African economy which was championing reforms to eradicate extreme poverty and promote shared growth nationally, regionally and globally.

Durban, with the busiest industrial port in sub-saharan Africa, offers an insight into how trade in regionally manufactured goods can strengthen economic resilience and create jobs.

The Global Shapers Community is an initiative by the WEF, whose Durban Hub was established in 2013 and forms part of an international network of 452 hubs.

The global hubs are led and developed by young people, primarily between the ages of 20 and 30 who are seen as exceptional in their potential, their achievements and their drive to make a difference in their communities.

The Durban shapers will host free Open Forum discussion that will tackle the themes of leadership – “Rising Up When Leadership Fails” – and entrepreneurship: “Unemployed and Unemployable.” • For more information about the Durban Global Shapers, contact Mandisa Ntombela: mandisa@ durbangs.co.za or visit www. globalshapers.org/hubs/durban. On Facebook: Durban Global Shapers Twitter: @Dbnglobalshapers Instagram: @durbanglobalshapers