MEDIA RELEASE

DATE: 16 OCTOBER 2009

TO ALL JOURNALISTS AND NEWS EDITORS

RE: INVESTMENT CALL CENTRE AGENTS TO CHASE DOWN R46.5 BILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENT ENQUIRIES

Trade and Industry Minister, Dr Rob Davies launched an Investment Promotion and Facilitation Call Centre in Soweto today. The Cheshire Home based Call Centre is part of the new strategy on investment promotion and facilitation that seeks to improve investment climate in the country and reduce the costs of doing business. The 10 seater Call Centre will be staffed by people with disabilities.

“The Call Centre is an Apex Government Priority in terms of the Cabinet Plan of Action (POA) of 2007, where all investment applications (of R100m and above) are registered and followed up, with escalation to The Presidency if insufficient progress is registered within 3 months,” said Minister Davies

Director of Investment Promotion at the dti, Yunush Hoosen said the Call Centre will be a one stop shop service for national and international investors to reduce administrative and regulatory barriers, as well as facilitating a smooth entry into the South African market by foreign investors. “It will provide a conducive investment environment and improve our investment climate,” he said.

Minister Davies said South Africa has recognised investment as a key element. He said “ We are trying to reach targets in reaching productive activity growth in employment, decreasing inequalities , tackling poverty and providing decent employment.

The department has in the past year updated strategies on exports and foreign economic offices and embarked on a training programme to ensure that all export and investment promotion activities are undertaken by people who are appropriately trained. The Call Centre agents have in this regard, been in training for the past six months on the dti programmes and services.

It has also adopted a Civil Integrated Project Team approach and last year there was a pipeline of R46.5 billion worth of investment enquiries which will be dealt with by the Call Centre agents.

Minister Davies said the success of this three year pilot project may lead to further expansion of this concept and adoption by other Government departments and the private sector across the country.

Manager of the Cheshire Home, Mandla Mhlanga expressed his contentment that disabled people are also given equal opportunities as able ones and that government is keeping its promise in integrating them into the society. ” My wish is to see more disabled people given a chance to prove themselves”.

The Call Centre will be operational from 2 November 2009 via Telephone: +2711 341 1600 or Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by: Communication and Marketing,

 Issued by the dt iChief Director: Lillian Mofokeng
Tel: (012) 394 1775
Mobile: 082 888 8362
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
the dti website: www.thedti.gov.za