EASTERN CAPE economic affairs, environment and tourism MEC Enoch Godongwana has tabled a R22 –billion budget which includes measures to promote business development in the province. Delivering his budget speech in the Bisho legislature, Godongwana said the strategic focus of the budget was on “addressing infrastructure backlogs; improving social services delivery; and strengthening support for private sector growth and development”. Included in the budget is support for the revitalisation and commercialisation of the province’s agricultural sector. An amount of R19.75 million has been allocated to veterinary services, as part of the drive to improve livestock farming. R25 million is made available for fencing and other related activities. Investment in capital infrastructure development has grown by 37 per cent, to R2.3 billion in the 2002/03 financial year, and will escalate to R3.5-billion in 2004/05. An amount of R616-million is dedicated to improving the roads network in 2002/03. This is almost a 50 per cent increase on last year’s allocation on roads and maintenance, according to Godongwana. Feasibility studies have been undertaken for the resuscitation of the Umtata/East London railway line. R44-million has been made available for the implementation of this project. “On the economic development side, we are excited by the progress made in respect of the Coega project, which the National Minister has declared as an Industrial Development Zone. The President signed the proclamation for the construction of the Port of Ngqura on the 23rd of January 2002. The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has been given a provisional license to operate the IDZ. In order to consolidate the operation of the IDZ, the provincial government has made available R80 million to the CDC as part of the commitment that was made in the previous Budget speech of March 2001. On the marine side of the project, the Port Authority has set aside approximately R3.2 billion over a period of four years to construct a deep-water port. On the East London IDZ, we are expecting confirmation soon of its declaration by the National Minister. More work will be done to make the IDZ operational in the coming financial year. Consequently R50 million has been made available. In addition we are strengthening our business support institutions (these include UVIMBA, ECDC and ECTB) and improving co-ordination between these institutions and other support agencies, provincial and national,” he said. Revenue generated by the province is projected to increase from R290 million in 2001/02 to R400 million in 2002/03 and R450 million and R500 million in the next year. The departmental allocation for 2002/03 in thousands of rand is as follows: Office of the Premier: R160 696; Provincial Legislature R67 111; Health R3 916 823; Welfare R5 581 928; Roads and Public Works R1 580 974; Education R8 571 364; Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs: R910 066; Agriculture and Land Affairs R518 995; Economic Affairs, Environment & Tourism R323 139; Transport R283 767; Provincial Treasury R253 152; Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture R216 298; and Safety and liaison R8 342. For the full budget speech go to http://www.ecprov.gov.za/speeches/finance/2002/budgetsp.htm