"We appreciate it even more if they decentralise investments away from the main economic centres such as Johannesburg, Durban or Cape Town," Zuma said at the opening of the Newcastle Regional Mall in Newcastle, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
"We are celebrating development in a town that has great potential, given its natural resources."
Newcastle had played a central role in the history of the liberation movement and produced some "outstanding freedom fighters" such as Yusuf Dadoo, Mac Maharaj and Siphiwe Nyanda, he said.
"It is with that illustrious background that today we stand here, happy to be celebrating economic development in this historic town."
Newcastle was an important agricultural and industrial development hub, said Zuma. It was also an important transport route for goods and services between Durban and Gauteng, and other inland provinces.
"This mall will certainly strengthen the role and position of Newcastle as an economic hub," he said.
"We do not view the launch of this mall as an isolated development. We regard it as a contribution to the national goal of building a more prosperous South Africa," said Zuma.
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