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Economic Growth

CONTACT
Economic Development: Dr Kosie Haarhoff khaarhoff@george.gov.za
Investment Opportunities: Lauren Waring lwaring@george.gov.za
SMME Support
Worker Collection Point and Informal Trading:

GENERAL
The Economic Growth division incorporates functions including Investment Promotion, Informal Trading, Skills Development and Capacity Building and Business Support Tools and Guides.

George Municipality’s vision is to establish a regionally connected city within a responsive and enabling environment and provide client-centred services to facilitate investment, small business development, employment, and skills opportunities which will lead to an equitable and sustainable city of the future.

Economic Growth

The Economic Growth division provides an enabling and conducive economic environment to facilitate sustainable economic empowerment for all communities within George through the implementation of economic development projects, programmes and initiatives.

George Economic Overview 

The division is responsible for the implementation of the following projects, programmes and initiatives to ensure economic growth:
The promotion of the development of priority sectors which include agriculture, the informal sector, manufacturing, technology, business processing outsourcing, transport and logistics;
Facilitate investment promotion in the key sectors to diversify the economy;
Build skills for the future through responding to investor needs and matching skills with jobs;
Facilitate meaningful job creation; and
Provide business support for thriving entrepreneurs in both the formal and informal economy;

The Economic Growth Division is responsible for the following:

Investment Promotion
Investment is a lever for economic growth and therefore one of the key focus areas of this section. The ease of doing business within George is facilitated within the Economic Growth Division to attract and retain investors and ensure that the municipality becomes an investment destination of choice.

Small Business (SMME) Development
Small businesses are the cornerstone of the economy and form the backbone of our communities.

The division supports small business development through:

  • Provision of business advice
  • Facilitate access to funding;
  • Provide entrepreneurship capacity building opportunities;
  • Facilitate access to market intelligence; and
  • Processing business licenses.