Speech by the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman
Patricia de Lille on the occasion of the Design Indaba’s
buyers’ breakfast
Ladies and gentlemen,
Honoured guests,
Good morning, goeiedag, molweni.
I would like to welcome everyone to Cape Town.
If you are not based in South Africa, you have come at an interesting
time.
Nationally, there seem to be increasing pressures on us.
We are experiencing slower growth than anticipated and nowhere near
the rate required to add the amount of jobs our national economy
requires.
In some places, the compact between business, labour and government
appears to be more strained than at any other time in the recent past.
We also know that old trading patterns, especially with and within the rest
of the African continent, are shifting.
Considered together, these factors add us to compound challenges facing
the country.
And yet, here in Cape Town, we have never been more confident.
That is because we know that our performance is not necessarily tied to
these national indicators.
Cities are forging their own paths in this world.
All economic trends show that, in the 21st century, growth and economic
activity will be driven by cities.
Indeed, the major engines driving the world forward will be what are
today regarded as mid-size cities.
This energy will be matched with the new dynamic of the developing
world realising its potential.
Together, this represents a dramatic change in the way the world’s
economy functions.
It is a new story for the world and it is a story in which Cape Town will be
a major character.
That is one of the reasons why we are honoured to be the World Design
Capital for 2014 (WDC 2014).
That designation is more than a label.
It represents our entire approach to governing, to interacting with people
and to building our economy and our society.
It is an approach based on welcoming innovation, different ideas and a
critical mass of new frameworks for adapting to the changing realities of
our world.
The Design Indaba is part of that broader approach, an important
component of bringing people to Cape Town to take the best in design
excellence back to their homes.
In addition to what you take back from your purchase orders, you will
also be taking back a piece of the new economic energy that is
transforming the world and Cape Town.
In closing, let me welcome you once again to our city at to the Design
Indaba.
I hope to see many of you join us next year for WDC 2014 and add your
energies to our own.
Thank you, baie dankie, enkosi.