FURTHER IMPETUS FOR CBD AS R6.3-BILLION INDUSTRY LOCATES HEAD OFFICE DOWNTOWN

[Cape Town, 14 July 2004] Cape Town’s appeal as a location for more and more corporate head offices was reinforced this week when the Casino Association of South Africa (CASA) opened its national headquarters in the city.

CASA represents the commercial casino segment of South Africa’s gaming industry. In just six years this new industry has been responsible for about R12-billion in new investment in all nine provinces, adding more than R36-billion to gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of economic multipliers.

The industry has created almost 100 000 direct and indirect jobs and in 2002/3 alone, accounted for nearly R1.3-billion in provincial gaming taxes and VAT which, together with company tax, contributed more than R1.7 billion to government revenue.

CASA chief executive, Derek Auret, said today that the decision to locate CASA’s headquarters in Cape Town was determined by a number of factors.

“One of CASA’s principal activities is to make a positive contribution to the evolution of good policy in respect of the gaming industry, meaning that we need to engage government constructively and regularly. Now that it seems parliament is destined to remain in Cape Town, it makes obvious good sense for CASA similarly to be based here.

“But it is also true that other issues influenced our decision, not least of which the appeal for our people of the quality of life to be found in Cape Town. And this is specifically why we chose to locate our national headquarters in the central business district, which has experienced an extraordinary revival in recent years”.

Auret said that Cape Town’s CBD was cosmopolitan, vibrant and provided in close proximity all the services and facilities one might expect in a major international city. For office workers, the CBD was well served by transport networks, and there was a growing diversity in terms of its retail and leisure components, not least of which supermarkets, and eateries.

“One would thus much prefer to be in town, rather than in a suburban office park”, he said.

Central City Improvement District (CCID) chief operating officer, Derek Bock, said that both the Cape Town Partnership and the Central City Improvement District were delighted with this vote of confidence by a national body.

“Since the CCID’s inception in late 2000, we have concentrated very heavily on improving the experience and quality of life of all those who work in, live in or visit Cape Town’s CBD. Mostly this has involved a substantial and visible increase in the levels of cleansing and security, but it has also involved upgrading public spaces for the enjoyment of all”.