Government has developed a Spatial Industrial Development (SID) Strategy to accelerate the rollout of major catalytic industrialist projects which will benefit small businesses and communities, across the country’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
The successful implementation of the strategy and its potential positive impact dominated discussions at the SEZs Chief Executive Officers Forum that took place in Sandton yesterday.
According to the SEZs Advisor at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Mr Maoto Molefane, the SID Strategy seeks to enhance the effectiveness of the spatial initiatives in unlocking private sector-driven investments and increased socio-economic impact.
“One important point of reference in this regard is the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises work packages that the Tshwane Automotive SEZ promotes in their implementation strategy. The ultimate goal is to have the greatest possible socio-economic impact. This will be accomplished through afrocentric and transformative industrial enterprises with value-chain connections across several African nations,” he said.
Molefane added that one important channel for achieving this goal is the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
“To enable the realisation of the objectives that underpin the SID Strategy, a number of deliberate strategic interventions are outlined in the strategy document. These are transversal in nature and span from governance to operational issues. Notably, these will be mainly championed by the dtic,” added Molefane.
The Executive Director of the Industrial Zones Programme (IZP) at the Industrial Development Corporation, Mr Lionel October said the strategy emphasised the need to scale up the SEZs across South Africa.
“The current investment climate is positive, but it is not significantly impacting the broader economy. The strategy calls for a broader and more audacious approach to economic growth and aims to have catalytic projects that will drive overall economic growth through these projects. Key components of the strategy also incorporate green energy related projects,” said October.
He provided an example of catalytic projects in the R18-billion rand investment Richards Bay based company Nyaza project. He said the project which is expected to transform the geography of Richards Bay, would be the largest since Sasol, focusing on beneficiation, value addition and exports.
The Special Economic Zones Advisor at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Mr Maoto Molefane.
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Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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