Premier Ntuli Champions Rural Investment at Nquthu Economic Promotion Breakfast

The Nquthu gathering was widely seen as a significant milestone in KwaZulu-Natal’s economic transformation roadmap and a model for similar initiatives across the province.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has reaffirmed the provincial government's unwavering commitment to transforming the local economy and creating inclusive growth, particularly in rural areas. Speaking at the Nquthu Investment Promotion Breakfast on Thursday, Premier Ntuli emphasised the importance of targeted development initiatives that attract investment and unlock regional economic potential.

The breakfast, hosted at the historic iNcome Museum in Nquthu, under the uMzinyathi District Municipality in central KwaZulu-Natal, served as a strategic platform to showcase investment opportunities across key sectors including agriculture, tourism, infrastructure development, and support for small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including senior government officials, local business leaders, emerging entrepreneurs, and prospective investors. Their collective goal: to drive meaningful dialogue, foster strategic partnerships, and mobilise capital toward impactful local economic development.

Premier Ntuli praised the initiative, stating that it aligns seamlessly with the 7th Administration’s core mandate to stimulate job creation, promote sustainable development, and ensure economic inclusivity across the province.

“We are intentional about taking investment conversations to every corner of our province, especially rural areas like iNquthu,” Ntuli said. “By supporting platforms like this, we affirm our commitment to building a thriving, self-reliant economy that benefits all our people.”

The Premier further stressed the role of rural investment in transforming communities, reducing poverty and unemployment, and creating long-term prosperity. He called upon local and international investors to take full advantage of the region’s untapped potential, natural resources, and resilient communities.

He highlighted that the provincial government is working to remove bureaucratic red tape and create an investor-friendly environment in rural municipalities, where infrastructure upgrades and support services are being rolled out to attract and retain investment.

“The people of KwaZulu-Natal are not passive recipients of aid, but active agents of change. With the right support, our local businesses and entrepreneurs can thrive and compete on national and international stages,” he added.

The Premier was accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, who echoed his sentiments. Madlopha-Mthethwa highlighted the provincial government’s renewed focus on agricultural value chains and agri-processing as tools for rural industrialisation and job creation.

She noted that areas like Nquthu, rich in agricultural land and traditional knowledge, are well-positioned to become hubs of food production and innovation, especially if supported through infrastructure investment, skills development, and market access.

“Agriculture remains the backbone of our rural economy. By linking farmers to formal markets and encouraging agro-processing ventures, we can drastically improve livelihoods and build sustainable rural economies,” she said.

The Nquthu Investment Promotion Breakfast forms part of a broader provincial strategy to stimulate local economic development (LED) and ensure that no community is left behind in KwaZulu-Natal’s journey toward inclusive and equitable development.

Among the investment opportunities presented were proposals for eco-tourism projects leveraging the region’s scenic beauty and cultural heritage, infrastructure developments such as roads and digital connectivity to improve rural access, and funding mechanisms for township and rural entrepreneurs.

The event concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to work collaboratively in unlocking the full economic potential of KwaZulu-Natal’s rural regions. The Premier pledged that the provincial government would continue supporting such platforms, not just in Nquthu, but across all districts.

“Our mission is clear: build a province that thrives on local potential, where investment is not centralised but spread equitably, and where every citizen—regardless of where they live—has the opportunity to prosper,” Ntuli concluded.

The Nquthu gathering was widely seen as a significant milestone in KwaZulu-Natal’s economic transformation roadmap and a model for similar initiatives across the province.