KZN Government launches new investment office to accelerate economic growth, fast track business processes
Efforts to drive economic growth and investment in KwaZulu-Natal are gaining momentum with Premier Thami Ntuli having established an investment office within the Premier’s office.
The office is aimed at strengthening KZN’s investment pipeline and accelerating the implementation of pledged projects across the province. The move has been welcomed by the Economic Development Portfolio Committee.
Ntuli spoke of the establishment of the office during the KwaZulu-Natal investment conference held last week. In a statement to The Mercury, Ntuli elaborated on the establishment of this new office.
“This new division is a recognition that the R100 billion pledges made during the 2025 KZN Investment Conference require more than attraction and validation — they require facilitation and red tape reduction.”
The Premier emphasised that the Office of the Premier, as the apex office of the provincial administration, will play a catalytic role in supporting Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) to ensure that investment commitments are effectively translated into tangible socio-economic outcomes.
Reflecting on lessons learnt from previous initiatives, Ntuli added that experiences from the 2024 KZN Investment Conference underscored the importance of a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach.
“The lessons learnt from the 2024 KZN Investment Conference are that TIKZN, with the help of the Premier’s office, can better align the efforts of stakeholders such as COGTA, SALGA, business chambers, national government, and provincial state entities,” he said.
The Premier further announced that the newly established Investment Office will be led by economist Dante Mashilo, who will work closely with the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Reverend Musa Zondi, to ensure seamless collaboration and accelerated impact.
The Premier’s Special Advisor, Dr Sabelo Gwala, said KZN continued to show strong economic performance.
“KwaZulu-Natal, in the latest economic growth figures, recorded the highest growth among all provinces. Even with the naked eye, it is clear that the province is on the rise,” Gwala said.
“The progress made by Premier Ntuli and Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi in the fight against crime has created an enabling environment. Safety is important, but the key ingredients are business facilitation and stable governance. With these elements now firmly in place, there is every reason to be optimistic about KwaZulu-Natal’s short- and medium-term prospects.”
Mafika Mndebele, the chairperson of the Economic Development Portfolio Committee, said the establishment of the Investment Office in the Premier’s Office is a welcome development that aligns with the provincial economic recovery and transformation agenda.
He recommended that the office must:
- Act as a one-stop platform to streamline regulatory approvals, permits, and inter-departmental coordination — reducing red tape and turnaround times for investors.
- Establish mechanisms to support existing investors, resolve bottlenecks promptly, and retain investment through proactive engagement.
- Identify strategic investment projects in key growth sectors (such as manufacturing, tourism, agro-processing, and the green economy) and actively promote them domestically and internationally.
- Provide technical and policy support to unlock opportunities that can crowd in private capital into infrastructure and industrial development. Align investment attraction efforts with the Provincial Spatial Economic Development Strategy (PSEDS) to ensure balanced regional growth and township/rural inclusion.
- Provide data-driven insights, investor intelligence, and policy advice to ensure a conducive investment climate and evidence-based decision-making.
- Strengthen coordination with existing provincial entities to avoid duplication and ensure coherent investment promotion and track investment flows, job creation impact, and investor satisfaction to continuously improve service delivery.
“Overall, the office should serve as a catalyst for confidence, ensuring that investors experience KwaZulu-Natal as a province that is efficient, stable, and ready for business — while upholding principles of social responsibility and inclusive growth,” he said.