Slashing through red tape
[caption id="attachment_36344" align="alignright" width="405"] ONE TEAM: In the entrance hall of the newly established Nelson Mandela Bay Business One Stop Shop are, from left, Nafcoc Nelson Mandela Bay president Mnyamezeli Dyala, economic development, tourism and agriculture executive director Anele Qaba, economic development, tourism and agriculture portfolio chairwoman Babalwa Lobishe and Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber project manager Glenton de Kock. Picture: DEON VAN DER WALT[/caption]
CUTTING through red tape to promote investment in the city was the main purpose behind a newly established Nelson Mandela Bay Business One Stop Shop, economic development, tourism and agriculture portfolio chairwoman Babalwa Lobishe said yesterday.
Located at Kwantu Towers on Port Elizabeth's Vuyisile Mini Square in the CBD, the One Stop Shop will assist investors and big businesses with municipal services such as business applications, environmental impact assessments and businesses' utilities applications.
Lobishe said what ordinarily would have taken investors six to eight months to complete, could now be finalised within a 45-minute consultation at the NMB Business One Stop Shop, with regular follow-ups by the staff to keep investors informed on the progress of their applications.
Economic development, tourism and agriculture executive director Anele Qaba said the municipality was serious about creating jobs and for this reason the One Stop Shop was established to speed up processes and give the facility a preferred approach within the municipality.
Instead of speaking to several departments within the municipality, inquiries would be processed in one place and the municipality would have a more coordinated approach to offering investment services, he said.
"There had been lots of loopholes and gaps in the past, with investors not knowing who to talk to.
"For years we have talked about establishing this facility and there has been a strong debate from business for it. This constructive criticism has helped to get things off the ground," Qaba said.
A feasibility study for the One Stop Shop was done in 2005, and since then the establishment of the unit had gone through various council processes.
Lobishe said key personnel were seconded from the various departments within the municipality.
The One Stop Shop would be able to track investments in the city more accurately with monthly and quarterly reports, she said.
Similar facilities were established globally by other cities to up their game through economic activism, Lobishe said.
Although small business would not be turned away from the One Stop Shop, the focus of the facility would be on big investors.
National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) Nelson Mandela Bay president Mnyamezeli Dyala said, as a tourism destination, the Bay would benefit from the new municipal facility, in particular B&Bs battling with rezoning applications.
To contact the NMB One Stop Shop, e-mail or you can call (041)503-7527. - Cindy Preller
