eThekwini Municipality, which includes Durban, South Africa, is actively involved in the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) at the BRICS PartNIR Innovation Center (BPIC) in Xiamen, China. This participation highlights eThekwini’s dedication to innovation, smart city development, and global cooperation. These efforts align with the municipality’s broader objectives of achieving sustainable urban growth and improving the quality of life for its residents.

Strategic Leadership and Capacity Building

Led by Speaker Councillor Thabani Nyawose, the eThekwini delegation is strategically focused on innovation and international cooperation. Their engagement extends beyond exhibition participation to include a month-long training program at BPIC. This program involves senior officials from the Energy Management and Marketing & Communications Directorates, aiming to bolster municipal service delivery by enhancing their technical expertise in energy management, digital services, and sustainability practices.

Building on Existing Partnerships

Building on a 2023 memorandum of understanding with Xiamen, eThekwini’s participation at BPIC aims to strengthen its position as a globally connected city. This agreement established a foundation for collaborative efforts in sustainable urban development, enhancing port infrastructure, and fostering cultural exchange between the two cities. Through this partnership, eThekwini seeks to embrace the transformative opportunities presented by the new industrial revolution.

Opportunities for eThekwini

BPIC’s training programs equip eThekwini with the knowledge and skills necessary for more reliable municipal services. By adopting advanced energy management, the municipality can optimise electricity consumption in buildings and street lighting, leading to cost reductions and improved service resilience. Exposure to smart city solutions, data analytics, and Internet of Things technologies further enables enhanced operations in waste collection, water management, and traffic control. Additionally, BPIC’s focus on green industrialisation allows eThekwini to integrate sustainability into urban planning, fostering climate resilience and environmental protection, while simultaneously creating economic development opportunities in emerging sectors like renewable energy and sustainable manufacturing.

Challenges and Considerations

For eThekwini to fully leverage this engagement, it is crucial to integrate acquired knowledge and skills into local contexts. This necessitates adapting innovations to Durban’s unique socio-economic landscape, existing infrastructure, regulatory environment, and climate challenges. Financial viability is also paramount, given the substantial initial investment and ongoing maintenance often required for high-tech solutions. To ensure equity and social inclusion, the benefits must extend to the wider population, not just a privileged few. Long-term success of these initiatives will depend on political stability, robust governance, and transparent accountability frameworks.

eThekwini’s involvement in BPIC presents a significant opportunity to establish Durban as a globally connected city, poised to embrace the transformative potential of the new industrial revolution. By enhancing technical capabilities, fostering international collaboration, and integrating innovations into local urban development strategies, the municipality can improve service delivery, stimulate economic growth, promote sustainability, and elevate its global standing. The ultimate success of this initiative hinges on the municipality’s ability to translate knowledge and partnerships into tangible benefits for all residents, ensuring Durban not only participates in global industrial trends but actively shapes them.

Written By: 

*Dr Iqbal Survé

Past chairman of the BRICS Business Council and co-chairman of the BRICS Media Forum and the BRNN

*Sesona Mdlokovana

Associate at BRICS+ Consulting Group 

African Specialist

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