Western Cape Economic Opportunities Minister Alan Winde
Photo by: Duane Daws
The Western Cape government has entered into a cooperation agreement with the US state of Georgia to unlock trade and investment opportunities between the two regions.
The signing of the agreement came as Western Cape Finance Minister Dr Ivan Meyer and Western Cape Economic Opportunities Minister Alan Winde attended the Regional Leaders Summit in Atlanta, Georgia, in the US.
Meyer said the agreement marked the formalisation of the relationship between the Western Cape and Georgia.
He added that the partnership gave effect to one of the key objectives of the Western Cape’s International Relations strategy, which was to facilitate trade tourism and attract strategic investment to the province to stimulate economic growth and jobs and reduce poverty.
“Georgia is the events and logistical hub of the US. The areas of cooperation, which are agriculture, tourism, trade and investment and renewable energy, will certainly strengthen our hand in positioning Cape Town and the Western Cape as the Gateway to Africa.
“The events economy is an important revenue driver. In the 2012/13 financial year, major events generated R1.3-billion for the provincial economy and attracted 196 600 tourists,” commented Winde.