The Coega Development Corporation is using its expertise to held develop the whole of the Eastern Cape Province. One of the crucial missions of the Eastern Cape government is to ensure that there is a reliable infrastructure network. In response to the challenge, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) and the Eastern Cape department of finance have joined forces to form the Rapid Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA). As a subsidiary of the CDC, RIDA will be helping to unlock the infrastructure backlogs that are slowing down development throughout all seven of the Eastern Cape, and particularly in the former Transkei, says Kelly Byrne, head of CDC’s technical and planning division. Mr Byrne says RIDA’s core function is the monitoring and reporting on all infrastructure developments in the Eastern Cape. “RIDA was placed in the province to help identify budget priority projects for the various departments in the province. RIDA is part of the Eastern Cape’s strategic development mechanism. “Our key business is to assist the Eastern Cape expedite infrastructure development, and ensure that communities have access to basic services. Our focus projects will include running water, sanitation, housing, construction of buildings and access to roads. We are interacting with provincial departments in the seven main regions in the province,” he says. The provincial departments that have been interacting with RIDA include Sport and Recreation, Health, Education, Social Development, Agriculture, Transport and Roads and Public Works. These departments are advised on project management, managing and delivering on the construction processes. “There are 1 500 projects and R1, 5 billion set aside for the development of these projects. RIDA will be involved in the enhancing of resources and the addressing the shortage of opportunities for SMME companies in the implementation of the projects,” he says. Mr Byrne says there is a strong emphasis on SMME development and the cultivation of local construction expertise in the Eastern Cape. There should be maximum use of emerging contractors when projects get underway. “RIDA is also undoubtedly the custodian of the budgets and roll out assistance in implementation of projects in the areas,’ says Mr Byrne. RIDA is already delivering. Currently emerging contactors and SMMEs of the province are benefiting from the construction of an access road to a clinic in Lusikisiki. The development is going to bring opportunities for a number of public entities, he says. However Mr Byrne’s immediate challenge is gaining the full co-operation of the government departments. “We are working hard to assure them that we are not taking over from them, but are merely giving support. As a new player we are viewed as a threat of delivery mechanisms of the departments,” he says.