Cityscape Dubai, in its 7th year now, attracts international investors, property developers, architects and all professionals involved in the property business.

Visitors attending the exhibition yesterday flocked to view the model of the more than R20 billion development, on approximately 16 500 hectares of land, north of the uThukela River on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele, accompanied by His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini and KZN Director-General Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa, also attended the exhibition.

Premier Ndebele said that KwaZulu-Natal needs to attract more foreign direct investment and from the interest shown in the province at Cityscape, it looked certain to achieve that.

"Cityscape has enabled us to have one-on-one interaction with developers from across the globe and we are trying to convince them to come and invest in KwaZulu-Natal," said the Premier.

The 11 x 5 meter model of the development was unveiled in Dubai on Sunday at a glittering ceremony hosted by Ruwaad, the UAE-based real estate, hospitality and tourism investment and development company, at the Jumeirah Hotel.

Approximately 500 guests including Premier Ndebele, King Zwelithini, Dr Mbanjwa, South Africa's Ambassador to the UAE, Abba Omar, approximately 100 other members from the diplomatic community as well as several other international investors attended.

On Sunday Premier Ndebele, King Zwelithini and Dr Mbanjwa held a meeting with Hanif Merchant, Chairman of Ruwaad, and Hayan Merchant, CEO of Ruwaad, at Ruwaad's offices in Dubai.

Since 2004 the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has been moving aggressively with its strategy to woo foreign investors to the province.

During the past 18 months alone, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has injected several billions of rands in infrastructural projects including the Moses Mabhida Stadium, the King Shaka International Airport and the Dube Trade port.

This is unprecedented in the history of the province.

This optimism has attracted the attention of the world and, as a result, the province is working towards one of the largest foreign direct investment projects.

The proposed multi-billion rand development, by Ruwaad Investments, will be on the northern side of the uThukela River, in the Macambini area on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

This project will create thousands of permanent jobs and will contribute to significant economic growth in the province.

The benefits to the people of KwaZulu-Natal will include skills training, employment, infrastructural improvements, educational, health and commercial opportunities as well as specific benefits to the local community, the Premier said.

- Nampa-Sapa

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