Progress and Impact of Revitalised Botshabelo Industrial Park Impressive- Deputy Minister Gina |
| The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Nomalungelo Gina has expressed satisfaction with the progress and impact of the revitalisation programme at the Botshabelo Industrial park, Free State. Gina visited the park with the Premier of the Free State, Ms Sisi Ntombela, Member of the Executive Council for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affair in the Free State, Mr Makalo Mohale, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Free State Development Corporation, Mr Ikhraam Osman.
Gina said monitoring and evaluation of the progress and impact of the programmes that government is implementing particularly the industrial park revitalisation programme was essential. She said the revitalisation programme was a response to a call to work towards full-scale industrialisation and inclusive growth, and a structured programme for the revitalisation of industrial parks located in the old industrial areas across the country. “I am mainly pleased that the park has many activities and the industries are fully functional and talking of expansion of their investments. We are pleased with a report that the park no longer has security challenges due to the security upgrades done by the dti. This will ensure that we retain and attract new investments as security is key to investors. Where we need to expand, we must expand and create more jobs in the park for our people,” said Gina. Gina added that the progress in the park was evidence that the goal to enhance the occupancy rate, maximise retention, promote expansion to order increase the park’s contribution to economic growth, diversification of economic activity, attracting investments, job creation and addressing inequality will soon be realised. The Chief Executive Officer of the Free State Development Corporation (FDC), Mr Ikhraam Osman said the occupancy rate of the park has increased from 76% before the revitalisation to 80% after revitalisation, with an addition of 821 jobs to the initial 5 898 jobs. Osman was pleased to share with Gina, Ntombela and Mohale the news about the new investment by Steel Smeltery factory that is to be erected in the Botshabelo Industrial Park with a total investment for plant and machinery that is estimated at R300 million. He said FDC would assist the investor to secure maximum benefit from incentive benefits. The building to be erected will be in the region of R200 million with a total of 2 000 permanent job opportunities estimated to be created. The revitalisation programme seeks to accelerate economic development in the lagging regions by attracting business to locate in these areas. It is also aimed at supporting job creation in manufacturing and related sectors. The Botshabelo Industrial Park was approved for R24 462 780 funding and was the first Industrial Park to reach completion. The second phase has been approved for R40 486 534.
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