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A recent study has confirmed what has been suspected all along – Johannesburg
is the continental leader and economic hub.
The member of the mayoral committee for finance and economic development, Parks Tau, welcomes the opportunity afforded to the city to be benchmarked among the best in the world
J
OHANNESBURG has long been recognised as the economic hub of Africa, and a
recent MasterCard Worldwide study has confirmed that the city is the continent's
leader, offering a strong business climate that supports commercial development.
The groundbreaking research programme, called the MasterCard Worldwide
Centres of Commerce Index, ranks the City of Johannesburg – the sole African
city to feature in the ranks – at 47th place among the world's top 50 cities
that are the hubs of the new worldwide economy.
Compiled from research by a panel of eight independent economic, urban
development and social science experts from leading academic and research
institutions around the world, the index explores the strategic role that cities
play in driving the global economy.
It is also designed to provide insight into and knowledge of how leading
cities influence the global economy and perform critical functions that connect
markets and commerce globally.
Measurements
Based on six measurement dimensions consisting
of over 100 data points, the index assesses the legal and political framework,
the economic stability, the ease of doing business, the financial flow, the
business centre capabilities, and the knowledge creation and information flow of
the world's 50 leading cities.
Occupying first position is London, followed by New York, Tokyo, Chicago and
Hong Kong in the top five. Completing the top 10 are Singapore, Frankfurt,
Paris, Seoul and Los Angeles.
Johannesburg's highest ranking was in the "financial flow" dimension, where
the city was ranked 26th. The city also scored high in the "ease of doing
business" dimension, where it was ranked 33rd. However, it scored low in the
"economic stability" and "knowledge creation and information flow" dimensions,
which represent opportunities for development, with index ratings of 69,77 and
3,22 respectively.
Speaking at the presentation of the findings at the Johannesburg Country Club
on Tuesday, 27 November, the member of the mayoral committee for finance and
economic development, Parks Tau, said he welcomed the opportunity afforded to
the city to be benchmarked among the best in the world.
Vuna Award
Johannesburg was recently honoured with a Vuna
Award for being the best performing metro in Gauteng in 2007, and had improved
its Fitch rating from A to A+. The City's key priorities were identified by the
Growth and Development Strategy, which aims to build Johannesburg as a
"world-class city".
"One of the important tools we use to meet the needs of our communities is
the five-year Integrated Development Plan that consolidates the planning process
and provides a framework for the future development of the city.
"Over the past five years, Johannesburg has increased its capital investment
significantly. There has been considerable growth in government-led public
investment to support growth in the city, along with a concerted effort by the
City, in partnership with the private sector to develop the city."
Tau admitted that there were areas where the city could improve, especially
public transport. This would change for the better with the introduction of the
Bus Rapid Transit system, which would establish a "safe and reliable" transport
system.
Understanding
Commending the City for its achievement,
MasterCard Worldwide's general manager for Africa, Eddie Grobler, said the
prerequisite for success in today's global marketplace was an in-depth
understanding of how cities were connected and how they influenced the worldwide
economy.
"The Worldwide Centres of Commerce programme addresses this need by
identifying and providing industry-leading insights into the characteristics and
commonalities of cities that advance global commerce the most.
Joburg is a world class city, says Mike Schussler, the senior economist at T-Sec
"Johannesburg, with a ranking in the top 50 centres of commerce, demonstrates
its position as a continental hub. As the city with the highest ranking in
Africa, Johannesburg's ranking tells an amazing growth story."
Despite being ranked 47, Mike Schussler, the senior economist at T-Sec, said
the score "wasn't too bad" taking into account the fact that Johannesburg was
the only city in Africa to feature in the top 50. However, he said the city must
strive to improve its knowledge base, its network capabilities and its transport
infrastructure, if it was to succeed in the broader game of global growth and
city wealth.
"We do, however, know that between now and 2010, continued capital investment
is planned by the City of Johannesburg for areas such as business process
outsourcing, tourism and its public transport infrastructure.
"These investments, coupled with increased attention from the City on law
enforcement and traffic congestion, will enable Johannesburg to improve its
position as a world centre of commerce significantly."
In conclusion, Schussler said Johannesburg was indeed a world-class city. It
would "power ahead" in many categories but needed to spend energy on its weak
areas.
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