Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in South Africa, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli and his eight-member Delegation arrived in the island yesterday and are expected to remain in the island until Friday September 20, 2013. The South African Minister and his Delegation are here in response to the visit to South Africa earlier this year of Minister Noel Arscott of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development in fulfilment of a commitment to strengthen ties between both countries.

In an effort to boost economic growth the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is pursuing Local Economic Development (LED) as a key initiative that will help with the issue of poverty reduction and job creation to foster economic growth and development; and South Africa is known as a pioneer in Local Economic Development (LED).

During this visit the delegation will hone in on the following areas for LED to aid in the crafting of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two (2) countries:

·         More effective exploitation of mineral spas and other outstanding local phenomena and heritage.

·         Non-traditional forms of tourism;

·         Use of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) especially the method of attracting private investors from South Africa;

·         Creation of Special Development Agencies as vehicles for promoting and facilitating LED projects;

·         Policy Development and training of LED officials.

The delegation will aid in the fostering of greater ties between the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Association of Local Government Authorities of Jamaica (ALGAJ) through a Memorandum of Cooperation among other initiatives.

As a result of this trip by the South African delegation, the Government of Jamaica can expect assistance with shaping and implementing our own  LED policy and program.