The Cacadu Local Economic Development Initiative (LEDI) is a partnership between Cacadu District Municipality, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and other major stakeholders in our region aimed at identifying and unlocking economic potential. The idea is to build a strong strategic relationship between municipality, local and regional stakeholders aimed at catalysing an economic turn-around. Areas of intervention include agri-innovation in the areas of fibre, renewable energy and agri-tourism and strategy and institutional development, including the revision of the district’s Economic Growth and Development Strategy and infrastructure investment assessments linked to a municipal finance services model.

 

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is the initiator of the programme and primary initial funder. Cacadu District Municipality is one of three pilot LEDI, or local economic development initiative, sites in the country, together with Ugu District Municipality in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Theewaterskloof Local Municipality in the Western Cape, all distinct in character and economic potential.

 

The first Cacadu LEDI programme steering committee meeting met on Tuesday, 9 February 2010, where proposed programme and project proposals were debated.