The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Mr Fikile Majola says the Sedibeng District, like other peripheral region, presents one of the most significant regional development opportunities in Gauteng. Majola was speaking at the Local Economic Development and Tourism Summit held in Heidelberg, Gauteng.
The primary purpose of the summit was to showcase Lesedi as being ready and open for investments amid the global recession made worse by weak growth locally and the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on economies.
According to Majola, the area has traditionally been South Africa’s heavy industrial, manufacturing and engineering hub. However, owing to an array of reasons, the region is experiencing a decline and de-industrialisation of the steel industry, causing undesired falling output and company closures.
“The national and provincial government are working closely on an economic revitalisation programme for the Vaal Region linked to the dtic efforts to set up and anchor a revival of the industrial belt in the area through a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and critical infrastructure funding for industrial parks,” said Majola.
Majola added that the Vaal SEZ company has been set up as an operating entity and is taking on professional staff with expertise to drive the programme.
“We are building on the Vaal SEZ vision as well as arresting the decline and imminent collapse of the steel industry through government interventions to accelerate manufacturing-led industrialisation.
These proposed investments present an opportunity to accelerate the development of infrastructure, which has multipliers with regards to stimulating other manufacturing activities,” he added.
Majola further said that the dtic is working with the other spheres of government, and are processing the application for the Heidelberg 24 Industrial Park.
“Furthermore, we will also share the Gauteng Government’s plan outlined in 2019 to introduce special economic zones where feasible and necessary, over a period of five years, to add momentum towards turning Gauteng City Region into a single, multi-tier and integrated SEZ,” he said.
Deputy Minister Fikile Majola addresing the LED and Tourism Summit in Heidelberg, Gauteng.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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