'Not all doom and gloom' for KZN economy - Zikalala
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala says while the province has suffered economic setbacks – it’s not all is doom and gloom.
Delivering his State of Province Address on Thursday - he said that the unemployment rate had risen to 28.7 percent from 23 percent before the Covid-19 pandemic.
He used the example of the closure of a factory that was manufacturing smartphones for the company Mara.
READ: Zikalala says KZN yet to recover from July unrest
"The Industrial Development Cooperation is now undertaking a study to ensure that this company is rescued and it has already put under the rescue plan."
He also spoke about Sapref suspending operations at the Durban south facility next month.
"We are disappointed by the decision of Sapref to indefinitely suspend refinery operations in Durban by the end of March 2022. The announcement comes not so long after Engen Refinery announced a similar decision regarding their operations in Durban."
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But, he assured, through Trade Investment KwaZulu-Natal there is an investment of R5.3 billion.
"Over 8 554 jobs created. Prominent among these are: Tetra Pak investment of R500m adding 120 to the already existing 300jobs, Webhelp Call Centre investment of R500m which will initially create 500 jobs which will grow to over 2000 jobs in the next two years.
"Capita BPO investment of R120m creating 500 jobs, Blythesdale Coastal Resort's R800m investment creating over 2000 jobs."
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