Pretoria - The R21 million upgrading and revitalisation of the Seshego Industrial Park will provide a business friendly environment that will enable an efficient way of doing business and attract new players, says Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.
Speaking at the official launch of the first phase of the Seshego Industrial Park revitalisation project in Limpopo, Minister Davies said the upgrade will attract industrial activity on a larger scale from new players.
The revitalisation and the upgrade of the park which is located in Limpopo is intended to make the park a more supportive business environment which will encourage more businesspeople to come into the facility and conduct their business more effectively and create local employment.
“Currently there are more than 1 600 people that earn their livelihood by working in enterprises within the Seshego Industrial Park. I think the possibility of expanding the number of people working here is very evident. We are going to be developing a specialised programme on agro-processing because the sector offers huge opportunities for people in this province,” explained Minister Davies.
According to Minister Davies, the province has the capacity for producing agricultural products that can be transformed in agro-processing activities.
“That can be supported more as we make the business environment and the facilities available to businesses more attractive that they have previously,” said the Minister on Thursday.
Phase 1
He further added that phase-1 of the revitalisation programme focussed on professionalising the industrial area, improving the physical security and eliminating the non-business related activities that were taking place in the park.
The revitalisation of the Park is part of the R189 million invested in covering six prioritised parks. This is under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Industrial Parks Revitalisation Programme aimed at promoting industrialisation and increasing the contribution of the parks to job creation and the country’s economic growth.
Phase 2
Phase-2 of the Seshego revitalisation programme will focus on refurbishing the buildings and some of the physical infrastructure beyond security.
“We will be working together with the Limpopo province to improve on the quality of the management, the way the proposition is packaged and the way it is promoted among the business community. This is the way we can work together to improve the prospects. We will be rolling out other industrial parks beyond Seshego,” said the Minister.
Limpopo MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Seaparo Sekoati, said he is delighted and encouraged that the dti invested considerable resources into the refurbishment of the park.
“This investment will go a long way in capacitating the park in terms of professionalised zoning and safeguarding of industrial assets. We envisage major improvements in the infrastructure and future output of multiple companies in the park,” said Sekoati. – SAnews.gov.za
