Project to add 260 000 jobs by 2019

With its objective of increasing the economic contribution of three key focus sectors by up to R59-billion, the Western Cape government has put in place its Project Khulisa growth strategy, which also aims to add about 260 000 jobs across these sectors.

- Simone Liedtke

Through Project Khulisa, the Western Cape government will focus on a set of high-potential sectors, namely tourism, agroprocessing and oil and gas, notes Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities Alan Winde.

“Project Khulisa is part of a set of ‘game changers’ identified by the Western Cape Cabinet for roll-out in its 2014-2019 term of office,” he says.

“International best practice shows that countries that have given specific attention to high growth initiatives have made a significant impact on job creation and economic growth. Our high-potential initiatives fall within the high-growth initiative spectrum. In all of them, we have determined that we also have a clear, but as yet unrealised, competitive advantage,” says Winde.

Meanwhile, enabling factors such as energy security, skills, e-learning, after-school programmes, better living, reduction of alcohol harms and broadband, which Project Khulisa entails, will receive the dedicated attention of a steering committee comprising the economic portfolio leaders of the Western Cape government and key metros, working together with the private sector, Winde explains.