THE inner city is one of the economic hubs of the country. It houses the headquarters of three of the country's major banks, as well as a number of insurance giants and the mining houses. More than 33 000 skilled professional people work in the inner city daily.

In addition, the inner city has several specialist economic neighbourhoods, including Jewel City, the Fashion District and City Deep, home to many of the freight and logistics companies.

Supporting the various companies are IT networks, including the City's own broadband project, and various Business Process Outsourcing concerns.

Alongside of this are numbers of emerging businesses, and street traders, jostling for business from visitors and residents alike. For many, the inner city is an arrival point for shoppers from neighbouring countries.

To boost local investment and encourage business, the inner city is one of the country's Urban Development Zones - a national project to revitalise the cities' CBDs. This allows for a tax incentive for developers who invest in upgrading existing property or create new projects. The economic development initiatives cover several issues:

• Street trading/micro-retailing
• Access to broadband telecommunications
• Targeted support to key economic sectors (business process outsourcing, cross-border shopping; hospitality and tourism; fashion; arts, culture and entertainment; and so on)
• Urban Development Zone and other possible incentives
• Targeted support to key economic anchors and area focused regeneration
• Supportive built environment
• Information

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