In a drive aimed at rebuilding confidence and promoting trade and investment, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Sihle Zikalala over two days, led a high-powered provincial delegation to Pretoria, beginning on Thursday, meeting diplomats, High Commissioners and trade delegations from over 40 countries.

Engagements are underway with key partners from Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, the UK, Australia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, forming part of KZN's aggressive drive to recover the economy following the July unrest.

Discussions centred around how KZN could strengthen relations with these countries while also exploring new trade and investment opportunities.

Zikalala said the provincial Cabinet had adopted the ‘KZN Export Strategy and Implementation Plan’, which has identified top products for export. The province has mapped out the applicable products to the top 21 African countries with high export potential.

“We have no doubt that this strategy will open up opportunities to grow the market share for KZN companies in already established African markets for [both] their matured products [and their] less matured products,” the Premier said.

He urged countries to join KZN on its road to recovery and to also save and create jobs in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has projected that global tourism recovery will take two years, and according to Zikalala, the KZN government is working to ensure that the province is ready to welcome back international visitors.

“Among government tourism infrastructure investments is a brand-new Durban Cruise Terminal which will be opened in the next couple of months. We are working with the Mediterranean Shipping Company, MSC, as they will be resuming their cruise tour between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique, and KwaZulu-Natal and Mauritius during the forthcoming summer season. That proves that we are working to open the economy for the world,” Zikalala said.