Brics delegates to add

R100m to regional
economy
BY PRINESHA NAIDOO, MARCH 25 2013,
08:32
INFUSED in the sea air is the scent of
aromatic spices, corn cooking by the
roadside and meat on the braai at
shisa nyamas.
Durban is a city like few others. Its
main streets, heaving with people, are
lined with shops, informal traders
stalls, salons and photographers all
displaying everything from electrical appliances to pyramids of bright red tomatoes, hair
weaves and photographs for ID books.
Joining such throngs this week will be about 5,000 delegates in town for the fifth Brics
(Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit.
Eric Apelgren, eThekwini municipalitys head of international and governance relations, said
the summit alone was expected to contribute R100m to the regional economy.
The expected knock-on effect is already being felt by the hospitality sector in Durban.
Mike Jackson, director of operations at Tsogo Suns KwaZulu-Natal hotels, said that
although hotel occupancy levels were already up compared with this time last year, bookings
for the Brics events have taken the groups performance "way above expectations".
Mr Jackson, who is also chairman of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern
Africa East Coast, spoke of measures adopted by the citys hotels and lodges to ensure the
best possible delegate experience in order to encourage them to return.
"The hotels chosen by the different delegations have all worked closely with the country
delegations and made provision for chefs from that country to operate from the hotels
kitchens," he said.
Mr Jackson also urged hotel general managers to give delegates a "running service" by
anticipating needs, being alert and focused on guest satisfaction "so that we are all almost
running to give service".


BUSINESS DAY
South Africa is already trying to attract visitors from Brics countries. The number of inbound
tourists from China grew by 63.5% between January and September last year, and the
worlds second-largest economy was now South Africas fourth-biggest overseas tourist
market, according to Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Last month he said the government wanted to grow the number of tourists from India to
more than 100,000 per year by next year, from the 79,000 who visited between January and
September last year.
While the tourism and hospitality sectors stand to benefit the most in the short term, Durban
is looking to the future and hopes to present itself and the province as the gateway for
business in South Africa and the continent.
According to Paul Jones of Urban-Econ Development Economists, while South Africa will,
through Brics, further entrench its status as the gateway to Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, given its
two ports, planned dig-out port and aerotropolis developments, is uniquely positioned to
become the trade gateway into the continent.
He also said making the most of this strategic advantage required "co-ordinated planning,
improvements in productivity and skills development, and substantial investment into
infrastructure" in the province.
Mr Apelgren said the summit would highlight the need to access "more favourable" financial
support systems for the citys large-scale infrastructure projects.
Reinforcing Durbans unique strategic advantage will be its soon-to-be established sister city
cooperation agreements with big cities such as Rio de Janeiro, St Petersburg, Mumbai and
Qingdao, in Brics member countries.
Mr Apelgren said such agreements would fast-track business-to-business linkages.
He also said the information and economic intelligence available through the Brics think-
tanks "will assist Durban to strategically position its policies and programmes that will favour
access to large markets within the Brics family".
http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/transport/2013/03/25/brics-delegates-to-add-r100m-to-
regional-economy