By Nangamso Mabindla
12 March 2007

THE R1-billion building boom, the planned expansion of the harbour and airport and the investments into the East London Industrial Development Zone all prove that Buffalo City's economy is doing well, according to municipal manager Gaster Sharpley.

Sharpley was speaking to the media about the conference on the City Development Strategy (CDS) to be held in East London on Tuesday, 13 March. All the City's partners, including business and state-owned enterprises, will gather to discuss a long-term economic plan for the region.

"Our city is doing well at the moment, but we need to know if this growth is sustainable. And what should the City do to support growth? Do we have the correct infrastructure? The CDS aims to help us look at what we need to sustain our growth," he said.

Earlier this year Executive Mayor Zintle Peter, the municipal manager and other City officials attended a South African Cities Network Conference where they discovered that Buffalo's development strategy was on par with those of other South African cities.

"We were moved by the fact that we were quite far with our planning. With the CDS we want to look beyond our current R2,2-billion budget and our more than 800 000 people. Our city needs to develop," Sharpley added.

At the CDS conference the mayor will introduce the strategy to the City's partners. She will also make a commitment to improving the city's infrastructure.

"The mayor will make a monitory commitment to improving our infrastructure during the conference," Sharpley said. "I am not going to divulge the amount, but I can say that it has got all of us excited."