Through infrastructure development, industrialisation and manufacturing; Limpopo has set a target to grow the provincial economy by 5% by 2019.

This was announced during the state of the province address by Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha.

Acknowledging the importance of social and economic infrastructure, Premier Mathabatha said the next five years will see his provincial government accelerating infrastructure development programmes to unlock the economic potential of in the province.

He said a team of officials has been put together to develop the Limpopo Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (LIIMP), which sets the pace for the province over the next 20 years and beyond.

“In the same vein, we have begun with the process of developing the Provincial Development Plan, consistent with the National Development Plan. This plan will provide a basis and long-term framework for planning and implementation of economic policies and programmes.”

Through the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA),  Mathabatha says the province wants to strengthen their support to small and emerging businesses.

Cooperatives and SMMEs are set to  form the backbone of the economic interventions in the province.

Concluding, “We will ensure that at least 10% of procurement of goods and services by Government should be from both the Cooperatives and SMMEs.”

Source – SAnews.gov.za