Accra:Limpopo Deputy President Paul Mashatile has inaugurated the InvestSA One Stop Shop in Limpopo, a facility designed to streamline business operations and enhance investment facilitation within the province. The initiative aims to provide investors with consolidated access to government support services, simplifying regulatory and administrative processes, improving coordination among institutions, and addressing investment-related challenges.
According to South African Government News Agency, Mashatile emphasized at the launch, held during the sixth Limpopo Investment Conference, that the One Stop Shop signifies Limpopo's openness to business. He stated that this facility will give investors direct government support and guidance throughout the investment process, aiding in the establishment and expansion of businesses efficiently. The initiative underscores the government's commitment to partnering with investors for development and ensuring that it acts as a growth enabler.
Mashatile highlighted that South Africa's economic future must extend beyond raw material exports, focusing on value addition, industrial capacity expansion, and employment creation. He pointed to Limpopo's strategic advantage in contributing to these national objectives through sectors such as mining beneficiation, agro-processing, manufacturing, logistics, and energy development. The Deputy President stressed the need for local mineral resource processing, agricultural value addition, and increased manufacturing to strengthen local industries, grow exports, and create jobs.
The Deputy President also called for significant investment in skills development as new investments enter the province. He advocated for enhanced education, technical and vocational training, apprenticeships, and workplace learning to equip young people for participation in a changing economy. Mashatile underscored the importance of economic inclusion, asserting that investment should benefit not just large corporations but also small businesses, cooperatives, and local suppliers, thereby fostering entrepreneurship and sustainable economic opportunities.
He noted that achieving inclusive economic transformation requires collaborative efforts among government, businesses, labor, and development finance institutions. Government must provide policy certainty, the private sector should contribute investment and innovation, and communities must engage actively in development.
Finally, Mashatile addressed the significance of capable local governments, particularly in light of the upcoming local government elections. He emphasized that strong, accountable municipalities are crucial for delivering services, supporting local economic development, and creating favorable conditions for investment.