MEC JACK LEADS A FACT-FINDING MISSION DELEGATION TO THE EASTERN CAPE

The MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Hon Mac Jack, is leading a delegation to the Coega Development Corporation and East London Industrial Development Zone on a five-day fact-finding mission in the Eastern Cape Province.

The delegation will visit the Coega in Port Elizabeth from Monday to Wednesday morning before heading to East London for the last leg of the trip which will end on Friday.

 The delegation will consist of the Northern Cape MECs Pauline Williams (Transport, Safety and Liaison), Mxolisi Sokatsha (Public Works), Lebogang Motlhaping (Health), mayors and municipal managers from ZF Mgcawu, Namakwa, Dawid Kruiper, and Richtersveld municipalities including the CEO of the Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Agency (NCEDA) Mr. Thobela Dikeni.

 The trip comes after MEC Jack’s recent visit to Coega, where he undertook to study the best practices that Eastern Cape Province, in particular, COEGA Development Corporation employ in conducting their business, especially with regard to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The award winning Coega SEZ was recently recognised for its international reach as Best International Trade Marketing Specialist in South Africa at the Sub-Saharan Enterprise Awards 2017 hosted by MEA (Middle East & Africa) Markets.

 Demonstrating its capability, in the same month, the CDC was also the winner of the Infrastructure Development category at the Vision 2030 Awards.

The visit will assist the Northern Cape government in the establishment of a fully fleshed SEZ in Upington.

“Our primary mandate as the department is to grow the economy which will create much desired jobs in our province. Hence the mission will be forming much needed partnerships with Coega and East London IDZ, towards addressing the structural challenges relating to poverty, unemployment and inequality,” said MEC Jack

Jack indicated that the Upington SEZ will be linked to the Boegoe bay as an export channel for various commodities.

Supported by the department of trade and industry (the dti) the Upington SEZ, is a business entity of the Northern Cape Provincial Government, responsible for leading a manufacturing revolution in the renewable and solar energy, mining, agriculture, aeronautical and other sectors.

Through SEZs, the dti wants to bring economic activity and growth to isolated parts of the country, which have commercial potential and creation. The aim is to provide an investor-friendly business environment that attracts foreign and domestic investment, and creates employment.

The proposed Upington SEZ is driven by the anticipated positive outlook for the renewable solar energy power demand in South Africa within the context of the IRP 2010 plan of the South African Government. It is anticipated that the increased utilization of renewable energy as a source of electricity generation will drive the establishment of new industries.

Progress to date is that bulk infrastructure is adequate for phase 1 consisting of 58.4ha. Electricity for the SEZ will be provided through the development of a new Photo Voltaic (PV) Facility with an output of up to approximately 23MW, located on 72 hectares of land within the SEZ which will commence from phase two.

Ends.

Issued by: Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism.

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