EKURHULENI municipality is fighting hard to become Africa's first aerotropolis.
To realise its dream the city has invited US-based expert Professor John Kasarda, who founded the aerotropolis concept.
An aerotropolis is a city-like development in which the layout, infrastructure and economy are centred on a major airport.
"The concept of an aerotropolis has been identified as the new economic growth path and repositioning vehicle for the city of Ekurhuleni. We want to build the economy of the region around South Africa's gateway to Africa and the whole world - the OR Tambo International Airport," city spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said.
Executive mayor Mondli Gungubele said in April that Ekurhuleni was to become an aerotropolis.
Gungubele made it clear that the city's rationale about the aerotropolis was simply "to leverage on the OR Tambo International Airport to build an aerotropolis that combines both advanced, First World features of Ekurhuleni with its developing and developmental features.
"The First World features of our aerotropolis are bound to rival the best in the world - a rail, road and air infrastructure that makes mobility agile, quick, reliable and accessible; a digital city that attracts the best companies in the world; accommodation, office and related real estate infrastructure that makes the most discerning executives feel at home; and a conferencing infrastructure to meet the meeting requirements of any convention or company, big or small," Gungubele said.
He said to achieve this historic objective, the city had moved with speed to bring in the brains behind the aerotropolis concept to share his knowledge and expertise.
"This will also enable him to experience the city so that he can help in the conceptualisation process of this massive and landmark development.
"Kasarda is considered the leading developer of the aerotropolis concept in the world. This concept positions airports as 21st century drivers of business location and urban economic growth."
Dlamini said changing the city to an aerotropolis would create jobs for people living in areas around Ekurhuleni.
Kasarda arrives on Tuesday and during his visit he is expected to among other things launch the Airport Cities Conference to be hosted by the city of Ekurhuleni in 2013.
He will also hold mini-workshops with the Gauteng provincial government and the City of Ekurhuleni.
'Dream city on cards'
EKURHULENI municipality is fighting hard to become Africa's first aerotropolis.
To realise its dream the city has invited US-based expert Professor John Kasarda, who founded the aerotropolis concept.
An aerotropolis is a city-like development in which the layout, infrastructure and economy are centred on a major airport.
"The concept of an aerotropolis has been identified as the new economic growth path and repositioning vehicle for the city of Ekurhuleni. We want to build the economy of the region around South Africa's gateway to Africa and the whole world - the OR Tambo International Airport," city spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said.
Executive mayor Mondli Gungubele said in April that Ekurhuleni was to become an aerotropolis.
Gungubele made it clear that the city's rationale about the aerotropolis was simply "to leverage on the OR Tambo International Airport to build an aerotropolis that combines both advanced, First World features of Ekurhuleni with its developing and developmental features.
"The First World features of our aerotropolis are bound to rival the best in the world - a rail, road and air infrastructure that makes mobility agile, quick, reliable and accessible; a digital city that attracts the best companies in the world; accommodation, office and related real estate infrastructure that makes the most discerning executives feel at home; and a conferencing infrastructure to meet the meeting requirements of any convention or company, big or small," Gungubele said.
He said to achieve this historic objective, the city had moved with speed to bring in the brains behind the aerotropolis concept to share his knowledge and expertise.
"This will also enable him to experience the city so that he can help in the conceptualisation process of this massive and landmark development.
"Kasarda is considered the leading developer of the aerotropolis concept in the world. This concept positions airports as 21st century drivers of business location and urban economic growth."
Dlamini said changing the city to an aerotropolis would create jobs for people living in areas around Ekurhuleni.
Kasarda arrives on Tuesday and during his visit he is expected to among other things launch the Airport Cities Conference to be hosted by the city of Ekurhuleni in 2013.
He will also hold mini-workshops with the Gauteng provincial government and the City of Ekurhuleni.
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