Welcome address by Ebrahim Rasool at Design Indaba 2004

When people speak of the Western Cape, they think economic activity is only derived from the tourism industry.

Yes, it is true that the Western Cape is emerging as the Gateway to South Africa and Africa. In tourism Cape Town is the major attraction, especially with the CTICC now open for business, but it is also the Gateway through which tourists visit the rest of the country.

There are also opportunities in the automotive and aerospace sectors, call centres, ICT, advanced plastics etc. Cape Town's skills base provides a wealth of opportunities for software development, website development and ICT outsourcing and training.

With a well established IT infrastructure and an abundance of language-proficient, semi-skilled workers, Cape Town has become a popular location for international call centres and the outsourcing of business services.

Add to this, the existing manufacturing base where clothing and textiles stand out as a source of historical pride, but also as an industry vulnerable to global conditions, then one understands why we are emerging as a major fashion centre.

Consider our position in agriculture and wine industry and again we see creativity and innovation at the centre of these industries.

Our decision to establish a world class Film Studio in Cape Town bears testimony to both our allure as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and creativity of our people in the indigenous film industry. We have stories to tell, talent to showcase, and expertise to share.

Cape Town, with all its contradictions, if not because of all its contradictions, stands out, in this exhilarating country of change, as a city of inspiration for the most creative in society, as a home for artists and writers, for designers and all manner of people whose business is to reach deep into their imagination.

Therefore the Design Indaba should not only be an opportunity to celebrate design but should be an attempt to grow the creative industries in South Africa. Recent studies have shown that creative industries can be of phenomenal benefit to a country's economy.

For example, in a recent study commissioned by the London Metro Council, it was revealed that the creative industry was the second biggest contributor to the regional GDP of London, and one of the fastest growth areas for job creation.

The creative industry contributes £21 billion to the London economy. Another important factor is that majority of companies in this sector are small to medium enterprises, which means it is an anchor to peg the development of the SMME industry in South Africa.

Clearly this is important to South Africa. During the recent Growth and Development Summit our commitment to the development of this sector was illustrated by the fact that among the decisions we took was one to attract R5 Billion worth of investment over the next three years. I have no doubt that it should be investment in the creative capacity of our economy.

Cape Town, however, does not need Design merely to be a discrete industry although this has been a successful area of investment.

Cape Town needs creativity and design to be the critical factor that transforms a vulnerable clothing industry into a vibrant, sought - after fashion commodity wherever discerning people gather.

Cape Town needs creativity and design to be the critical difference between simply telling our stories through documentaries and telling our stories in vivid, entertaining and riveting ways in an era of mass consumption and instant gratification.

Cape Town needs to value our unique historical confluence of architectural styles, each are telling a bit of our history, but in tribute to the creativity that abounds, we may need to blend our history with our desire as a nation to rise above our past, to reach to a new future and we may well need the kind of avant garde architecture that symbolises this aspiration.

Cape Town needs to turn our abundance of gold and diamonds into stunning jewellery that everyone aspires to. Design is the key to this.

Design cannot be measured only in terms of contribution to GDP, value of investment, and sales figures.

Design is about who we are as individuals, communities, professions, and nations. It infuses every activity of ours and adds value to it. It makes us human. It distinguishes us from each other, yet unites us in pride. It helps us, not to ignore the drudgery of daily life, but to make that life possible because our creativity is the basis of our survival.

When we declare here today, that Cape Town is the creative and design capital of our country and continent, we say so with pride in what has been achieved and we say so in hope for what will be the fruits of our work to make it happen.

We say so, because year after year, Ravi Naidoo has inspired all of you, the leading designers of the world, to grace us, to inspire us, and to teach us.

Thank you for giving us this confidence. Welcome to South Africa's design capital.

For more information contact:
Thabo Mabaso
Media Liaison
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
Tel: (021) 483 3090/3531
Fax: (021) 483 3015
Cell: 083 414 8144
E-mail:

Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Western Cape Provincial Government
24 February 2004