If Durban hosts WEF in SA, it will boost city by R115 million

THE KwaZulu-Natal government is lobbying for Durban to be the only city in the country to host the World Economic Forum (WEF) Africa whenever it is taking place in South Africa, said Economic Development MEC Sihle Zikalala.

Zikalala was addressing the media yesterday about Durban’s state of readiness to host the well anticipated international event in May.

“We are ensuring that Durban becomes a permanent host of the WEF Africa whenever it is coming to South Africa,” he said.

Zikalala said KwaZulu-Natal was the only province that was represented at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, last week. He with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the event, which ended this weekend.

Zikalala said the plan was for Durban to emulate the city of Davos which had become the permanent host of the WEF.

“Davos is like a big city in the world yet it is not a capital of that country as it is branded around the world community,” he said.

The WEF Africa is an annual event, which rotates between South Africa and any other country in the continent every year.

“As KwaZulu-Natal we would want to create a situation where its seating in South Africa is permanently in Durban.

“International events of such footprint get associated with particular cities,” he said.

Zikalala had estimated that the event would have a direct benefit of R115 million to the province through creating more than 500 jobs during the event.

The three-day event would take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre from May 3. It is estimated that about 5 000 delegates would attend.

Zikalala said between R1-billion and R2.2bn would be generated for KwaZulu-Natal through macro-economic impact in the next three years.