The North West Development Corporation is working hard at improving the province

The North West Development Corporation (NWDC) provides infrastructure for industrial and commercial development; facilitates employment opportunities in support of the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) delivery objectives in the manufacturing and commercial sectors; enhances productive entrepreneurial activities to create and maintain permanent employment opportunities and eradicating poverty; and ensures the accessibility of the corporation and the services it provides to the people of the province, particularly areas where the NWDC has no footprint, such as the Southern District.

The NWDC hopes to be an efficient and effective economic development agency of the North West Provincial Government. The above objectives serve as a guideline to attaining this vision.

In achieving this goal, the NWDC has put into place projects that will assist and drive economic development in the province.
The chief executive officer of the NWDC Mike Mthimunye says, “We have been entrusted with a project to assist in supporting the development of investors in the automotive industry who are
mainly situated in Bojanala. This project has been outsourced to the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) and managed by the NWDC.”

This project has seen many achievements thus far, and the corporation hopes to see many more.

The NWDC is aligned with the following high-value projects within the North West Province:
• NWDC Light Industrial Park (second phase);
• Platinum beneficiation (production and design of platinum
jewellery);
• AIDC Skills Development (automotive industry and platinum
beneficiation);
• Beef beneficiation (feasibility study);
•Mafikeng Bio Diesel (nursery);
• Madikwe SISAL Project;
• Wild Silk Project;
• Car Wash Programme; and
• Assistance to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

With these projects, the NWDC aims to expand its developmental impact throughout the province. This is also accomplished by means of additional projects linked to the NWDC, for instance, with
the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (Cipro) and the North West Province Business Directory (NWPBD).

The NWDC assists all business owners and entrepreneurs in registering their business with Cipro, thereby linking them to Cipro’s database as well as providing access to business advice. The NWPBD is a Web-based business directory that allows businesses to showcase their products and services, encourages information sharing as well as provides the opportunity to attract local and foreign investment. Since taking on the role of CEO, Mthimunye is proud to say that there has been much that he has accomplished such as strengthening the cashflow of the NWDC. Training systems have been implemented to upskill staff. He has ensured that there are sufficient pool vehicles to go around so that the NWDC is able to carry out its functions.

“In a nutshell, the NWDC has been delivering on its mandate, but the biggest achievement on our side as NWDC is the personal development of all our colleagues and the sustainability of SMMEs.

We would not have come this far if it were not for our people, our employees and our colleagues,” he adds.

The NWDC has invested quite a bit in SMMEs. The NWDC provides these emerging businesses with rental space at a lower rate than they would normally find. In addition to this, they are offered advice and assistance where possible.

As the Fifa Soccer World Cup draws closer, its impact on the North West Province is becoming ever clearer. Infrastructure has received high priority for the event as roads, stadiums and other sectors are being improved upon. Accommodation facilities also benefit vastly from the event, as more guest houses have been constructed and others revamped. This is particularly prominent within the Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Bojanala rejoins of the province.

The building of stadiums and the event co-ordination surrounding this have contributed vastly to the improvement of skills in the province and have given rise to new vocation opportunities.

These initiatives will benefit the people of the North West long after the tournament has ended.

“To conclude, in my view, the North West Province represents a puzzle. Each region, each town, together with its people, are so unique and special that when added to the puzzle, they fit perfectly and thus complete the entire layout – the entire puzzle that represents the North West Province. We all make a difference.

Together we can do more,” says Mthimunye.

< Prev		Next >