GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - All roads led to Nxuba this week as 250 Salga representatives from the Karoo spanning four provinces headed for the South African Local Government Association's annual Karoo Small Town Regeneration conference on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The initiative was launched in 2013 and is led by Salga's Economic Development and Planning Directorate in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape.
The conference took place at The Palms and all representatives were accommodated locally.
Surrounding communities and towns were also drawn in to assist with gift bags, food preparation, tourist activities and entertainment for the attendees.
Investment
This year's theme was 'Karoo Region! Investment destination of choice' and its primary aim was to ensure coordination and integration of socio-economic infrastructure investments with potential.
Other focus areas were economic growth, job creation, spatial transformation strategies and shared development objectives for the Karoo.
Technology innovation discussions to enhance development of the Karoo's small towns, included plans for tourism growth, networks and tourist safety as well as youth development.
40 municipalities
Representatives from over 40 Karoo municipalities, as well as from selected national and provincial departments, attended the event.
According to the organisers past milestones include the launch of the Karoo Regional Spatial Development Framework and the establishment of the Karoo Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) management structure, both in 2023.
The Karoo IGR Forum aims to provide formal channels for political and technical intergovernmental cooperation.
"Of the utmost importance during a congress of this magnitude, is the establishment of successful networks, as no town can go it alone. We must take hands and work together," the Hofmeyr delegation concluded.
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