Thank you, hon Speaker. The Provincial and Local Government Conference of the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission was held on 13 April 2012 and was hosted by the Deputy President as the Deputy Chair of the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission, PICC.
The conference was convened to share information on the infrastructure plan, to provide an overview of the strategic infrastructure projects which were announced in the state of the nation address, and to mobilise support and commitment from key role-players. It was attended by Ministers, premiers, mayors and officials.
The conference was a resounding success and achieved its objectives. The delegates welcomed and supported the infrastructure plan as a necessary and timely intervention. The conference resulted in a greater understanding of the infrastructure plan by delegates and a commitment by all spheres of government and public enterprises to work together to ensure the successful implementation thereof.
All participants committed themselves to playing their respective roles to implement the infrastructure plan urgently. Three intergovernmental forums have subsequently been convened to launch specific infrastructure projects. To date, we have launched three projects: the Northern Mineral Belt, the Saldanha-Northern Cape Development Corridor, and the Integrated Urban Space and Public Transport Programme, directed at the major cities in the country. So far they are being implemented in Cape Town, Johannesburg and eThekwini.
Work is going well towards launching the remaining projects. The PICC secretariat has held discussions with private-sector investors as well as public agencies to partner with government in this important initiative. The Presidential Infrastructure Investor Conference is scheduled to take place before the end of the year. I thank you, hon Speaker.