The European Union (EU) has committed itself to continuing help with tourism-related development and projects along the Wild Coast with a 30-million-euro (around R250m) local economic development (LED) fund for this purpose.

This was the word here from Dave Arkwright, head of the EU Wild Coast programme management unit.

He said that the EU was still committed to the purposes of its 12,8m-euro pilot project, started in 2000 and due to end in November this year, "to achieve tangible economic and social development of the previously disadvantaged communities on the Wild Coast".

Much of the work started on the project was not likely to be finalised by November and the outstanding operations would be moved into the LED programme which was set to run for six years.

The money would be delivered in stages or trenches with a significant amount set for its start-up.

The public aspect of the fund would fall directly under the control of the Treasury and Premier's Office.

Eastern Cape Development Corporation acting chief executive officer Kevin Wakeford confirmed the programme and that the ECDC would also be involved in administering and driving a number of the projects.

The corporation had already advertised for a project director to oversee the programme. The project needed a dedicated person who understood all aspects and conditions attached to the 30m euro assistance programme and had the ability to speed up processes that would lead to development.

The money was available and it was up to the government and business just how best to tap into it with the best results for the communities.

Wakeford said the fund was specifically for use in the Eastern Cape.

Arkwright said the LED fund showed the EU's commitment to the region and would allow the organisation, set up here and recently restructured, to continue working on projects with communities and scouting for others.

However, the money left over from the pilot project would be lost, he said.

Wakeford confirmed that systems were already in place and money for research projects was available.
"There are two components to the project. One involves public sector projects such as infrastructure and the other private sector that would involve the Industrial Development Corporation and the ECDC."

Arkwright said the pilot programme had shown up a number of flaws that had been addressed and lessons had been learned that would be incorporated into the new six-year programme.

Initially the EU intended to use the Wild Coast pilot to work directly with communities in developing skills and help set up community-based and run operations.

"However, we have had to realise that to make many of these operations sustainable they have to be market driven and this entails joint ventures and other public/private partnerships with the communities to make them sustainable."

The initial programme had trained more than 21 000 young people in life skills and more than 2500 adults in tourism related skills. It had imparted environmental and tourism awareness in more than 3300 others.

"What we now have to do is find jobs for these people," Arkwright said, adding that ideally the training and product development should have occurred simultaneously.