PREMIER'S REMARKS
Master of ceremonies
Inkosi uMbuyane nesizwe sakwa Mbuyane
His worship Mayor Isiah Khoza
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
I am honoured to speak on the occasion of the sod-turning ceremony of the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. I do so with a sense of pride and joy - and deep appreciation. Particularly because today is Environment Day.
The development for our people, especially the rural poor, is a matter very close to my heart. I am therefore touched to be part of the launch of the airport.
Many of you may say, but there is no airport. What is the Premier talking about? Let me hasten to say to you that a journey of a thousand miles begins with that first step.
So too is the building of an airport. It begins with a concept – an idea. And the soil-turning we are about to witness today is the fruition of an idea – a vision.
Last year this area was hard-hit by the forces of nature when floods struck and people lost loved ones, homes and property. But nature can also nourish us and today we celebrate a new way of harnessing the life-giving power of the earth.
For it is in the soil, in the earth, that we are going to build this new airport. I am also happy that this venture will most certainly create jobs for the people here.
Together, initiatives of this nature have the potential to change the face of our Province.
Mpumalanga is ideally located at the eastern tip of our country and is therefore ideally positioned for easy access to the countries of the Southern African Customs Union and the Southern African Development Community.
Due to Mpumalanga's proximity to the coasts of Maputo and Natal, this airport has a lot to offer. Very few other destinations can offer a wide variety of attractions: beautiful coastlines, mountains, unique fauna and flora and many different cultures.
The phenomenal growth in airline traffic since 1994 through the three major international airports in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town is due to the rapid growth of both tourism and business travel.
I believe that the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport will complement these airports to serve the growing eco-tourist and commercial traffic in southern Africa.
Through this airline Mpumalanga will be directly connected to
all the major centres in Europe, the United Kingdom, North and South America,
the Indian sub-continent, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.
As government we have realised the importance of spatial development
initiatives, or investment corridors. These corridors have as one of their aims
job creation through industrial and agri-tourism development.
There are seven such initiatives underway in South Africa. Each corridor is driven by inherent economic potential, but is promoted and facilitated by government through provision of detailed information about the area.
Government also supplies information on existing private sector plans and invests in infrastructure to relieve bottlenecks. The implementation of spatial development initiatives throughout the Southern Africa Development Community,
coupled with trade and investment missions led by the national Department of Trade and Industry from South Africa to SADC member states, has resulted in substantial investments in the region that are mutually beneficial to South Africa and the recipient countries.
As I mentioned earlier, there are seven such corridors in various stages of implementation.
The Maputo development corridor involves improving the N4 from Gauteng, upgrading the port of Maputo, and implementing many other industrial and infrastructure projects.
Because of it's location this international airport brings a new dimension to the Mpumalanga section of the Maputo Corridor.
The province and the country maintain formal trade relations with various countries by means of treaties, trade agreements and membership of international institutions concerned with trade.
I hope the realisation of this international airport will put the province on the map of the Southern African Development Community.
It is government's key policy objective to strengthen trade and investment linkages between South Africa and the other SADEC countries.
This project will bring to the province foreign direct investment of R270 million. And the local population MUST benefit from this venture.And if we say there is hope, in so far as job-creation is concerned, it is because we know that all the partners have put shoulders to the wheel to ensure that we succeed.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Government reiterates its commitment to work in a close partnership with all the people, inspired by the clarion call Faranani; to ensure that we draw on the energy and genius of the people in the Province to give birth to something that will surely 'be new, good and beautiful'.
On that note, I would like to thank Kruger Park International Airport and the community of Mbuyane for having embarked on this venture to contribute towards rural development, through the erection of this school.
It is a vision they had. It is a dream they dreamt. That is why I call on all the people here to have an active interest in the future success of this venture.
Protect building material from thieves. In so doing you are not only ensuring that this project succeeds, but you will also be ensuring that you contribute to social change in your area, your province and in the country.
I thank you.