The Gauteng Provincial Treasury on Tuesday announced new measures which will increase revenue‚ reduce costs and bring in the private sector as a roleplayer in development. The provincial treasury had projected economic growth of 1.2% in the province for 2015‚ which was disappointing.“We are‚ however‚ optimistic that with our interventions‚ as shared by the honourable premier‚ we expect an upturn in our provincial economy by 2018‚ with a moderate growth projection of 2.8%‚” Creecy said.Gauteng is home to about 24% of the country's population‚ with about 13.2-million residents‚ and is viewed as a driver of the national economic growth.About 40% of the country's business and services sector is based in Gauteng and 64.6% of the country's trade happens in the province.However‚ with an increase of 1.8-million people over the past five years‚ the province is experiencing serious problems in meeting demands for the growth in population. This growth has pushed demand for housing‚ health‚ education‚ transport and other basic amenities.Creecy said the provincial government received 95% of its revenue from direct transfers from national government. This meant the province would ensure sound fiscal discipline as indicated by National Treasury in order to achieve its growth targets.She said the province would prioritise spending in this fashion:- Spending less on catering‚ travel‚ accommodation and telecommunications;- Improving on revenue collection to maintain provincial spending on social services for the poor;- Prioritising filling posts for teachers‚ doctors‚ nurses and social workers‚ and abolishing administrative posts which are not no longer needed;- Speeding up the open tender system;- Improving project management and financial controls; and- Using off-budget financing for infrastructure‚ housing and the township economy. – TMG Local Government Team..