By Sbongile Dimbaza

Big business in Nelson Mandela Bay will gather under one roof next week for a seminar probing the future of major projects in the region.

Dubbed “Future perfecting Indaba”, the seminar, one of three planned for the region in the coming months, will be held next Monday, October 5, at the Boardwalk.

Presentations and discussions about some of the city’s key projects are on the agenda.

Key project developers lined up for the day-long event include Mandela Bay Development Agency chief executive Pierre Voges, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School head Prof Piet Naude, Coega executive Siya Mhlaluka and Riaan Oberholzer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Organisers Ukuvula Investment Holdings, in partnership with The Herald, said the main idea was to bring together under one roof all the major projects developers to inform and update the local business community about the multi-billion rand projects.

Ukuvula spokesman Charmaine Smith said public participation was crucial to the projects’ development.

Chairman Alfred da Costa said that while Ukuvula believed that these projects were known for catchy phrases, not enough was being done about informing the general public.

“This series of indaba sessions may extend itself to the general public through mass media or through presentations to communities,” Da Costa said.

He said a key feature was the opportunity to influence public discourse on the future by inviting scenario planner Clem Sunter.

Sunter would present a public scenario plan for the city with stakeholders representing government, business, labour, civil society, faith-based organisations and the youth.

The Herald managing editor Sicelo Fayo said the newspaper’s involvement with the seminar was based on its commitment to direct participation and contribution to the region’s development.

Source: The Herald