Western Cape aims to become SA's "green economic hub"

"Our government is finalising the draft Green Procurement White Paper, which will provide general principles and guidelines for integrating environmental criteria into supply chain management," she said. The province is also preparing to build wind and solar energy farms. And one of the objectives is to reduce energy and water use in provincial offices and other buildings, such as hospitals by 10%.

Promised a "game-changing" infrastructure plan this year, Zille said that the most powerful economic lever in the hands of a provincial government is the ability to build growth-creating infrastructure. "While I welcome President (Jacob) Zuma's new focus on infrastructure development," Zille said "it is critical to understand that without private sector investment, neither South Africa nor the Western Cape will be able to build the infrastructure needed for growth."

Cape Town would see three regeneration projects, including the Founders' Garden/Artscape precinct, the development of a government precinct and the development of the Somerset Hospital precinct. The convention centre would be doubled in capacity, Zille said, adding that the province would launch a road network improvement project to support the Saldanha Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) initiative. Zille also announced plans to provide broadband internet access to every citizen, school and government facility in the province, aiming to connect 70% of government facilities and every school by 2014. "It is clear that if we aim to create an international competitive knowledge economy, improve productivity and enjoy access to new markets, we need to invest far more in fast and affordable broadband infrastructure," Zille concluded.

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Read Helen Zille's State Of the Province Address.