Government has developed a Spatial Industrial Development (SID) Strategy to accelerate the rollout of major catalytic industrial 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 in Sandton on Tuesday.
According to the SEZs Advisor at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Maoto Molefane, the SID Strategy aims to strengthen the effectiveness of spatial initiatives, unlock private sector–led investment, and increase overall 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 its 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.
The agreement aims to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-African trade.
“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,” Molefane said.
The Executive Director of the Industrial Zones Programme (IZP) at the Industrial Development Corporation, 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 highlighted the R18 billion investment project in Richards Bay, led by the Nyaza project company.
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. – SAnews.gov.za
