In an effort to revive several defunct industrial zones across the province and create jobs, the provincial department of economic affairs has roped in the assistance of the national Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Economic affairs MEC Sakhumzi Somyo said the project, which is being managed by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) with the help of DTI, will see hundreds of jobs created in areas such as Dimbaza, Fort Jackson in Mdantsane, Vulindlela in Mthatha and Queendustria in Queenstown.
“There are investors who are very keen to come and invest in Dimbaza,” Somyo said.
“These are key industrialists who are doing work in some parts of the province. ECDC is handling such investments.
“Except for the jobs that are created through the programme of beefing up security at these identified industrial zones, we are very positive that by August the first crop of investors will have already settled in and we are looking at the creation of at least 500 jobs for a start,” he said.
The revival programme of the industrial zones started late last year, Somyo said, with the fencing of all affected areas, installation of surveillance cameras, as well as electrification of the zones where supply had been vandalised over the years.
“The process is handled by both province and the DTI at national level,” Somyo said.
“We have targeted key areas of success to create a secure environment at those hubs.
“In order to attract more investors you must ensure that at least there is proper security such as secure fencing, as well as security personnel, and enough lighting, especially at night.”
Incentives have also been put in place to attract prospective investors to these areas.
Somyo said in areas such as the Vulindlela industrial area in Mthatha, ECDC owned all the factories.
“All they have to do is finalise the incentive package such as lower rentals and lesser electricity tariffs. We have to make these zones work so that we can create as many jobs for our people as we can,” he said.
Somyo’s spokesman, Thobile Gowa, said Queendustria in Queenstown and Vulindlela were expected to create 100 jobs in phase one of the project, which forms part of provincial government’s job creation programme.
Addressing the media earlier this week following an ANC lekgotla, premier Phumulo Masualle said party leaders at the meeting made it clear that job creation had to be speeded up.
“The lekgotla has asked that efforts be stepped up in the revitalisation of the industrial parks. We will have to accelerate it with more companies being lured to come and work in those industrial parks,” Masualle said.
Gowa said they wanted “six large industries in the Dimbaza Industrial Revitalisation project”.
He said three were in “serious engagements” to relocate as anchor tenants to the zone. They were in the fields of aquaponics, hydroponics and food processing.
The Masualle-led executive noted the exodus of several companies from the province due to an unattractive economic environment in 2014.
The provincial executive committee assigned Somyo to undertake a fact-finding mission on the reasons for the closures of factories, which left for other towns only to find that some municipalities were charging higher electricity tariffs.
This was after the Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council alerted the provincial government that three companies were on the verge of moving to more viable cities.
These included Seating (Pty) Ltd, a Queenstown-based furniture factory; Vektronix (Pty) Ltd; and Time Clothing, based in East London.
Somyo said Seating had left last year but through the work of DTI and ECDC “we have managed to lure another listed investor”.
“In fact, we can safely say there will be a furniture factory to replace Seating in Queenstown.” — zineg@dispatch.co.za
Revival plan for new jobs
Economic affairs MEC Sakhumzi Somyo said the project, which is being managed by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) with the help of DTI, will see hundreds of jobs created in areas such as Dimbaza, Fort Jackson in Mdantsane, Vulindlela in Mthatha and Queendustria in Queenstown.
“There are investors who are very keen to come and invest in Dimbaza,” Somyo said.
“These are key industrialists who are doing work in some parts of the province. ECDC is handling such investments.
“Except for the jobs that are created through the programme of beefing up security at these identified industrial zones, we are very positive that by August the first crop of investors will have already settled in and we are looking at the creation of at least 500 jobs for a start,” he said.
The revival programme of the industrial zones started late last year, Somyo said, with the fencing of all affected areas, installation of surveillance cameras, as well as electrification of the zones where supply had been vandalised over the years.
“The process is handled by both province and the DTI at national level,” Somyo said.
“We have targeted key areas of success to create a secure environment at those hubs.
“In order to attract more investors you must ensure that at least there is proper security such as secure fencing, as well as security personnel, and enough lighting, especially at night.”
Incentives have also been put in place to attract prospective investors to these areas.
Somyo said in areas such as the Vulindlela industrial area in Mthatha, ECDC owned all the factories.
“All they have to do is finalise the incentive package such as lower rentals and lesser electricity tariffs. We have to make these zones work so that we can create as many jobs for our people as we can,” he said.
Somyo’s spokesman, Thobile Gowa, said Queendustria in Queenstown and Vulindlela were expected to create 100 jobs in phase one of the project, which forms part of provincial government’s job creation programme.
Addressing the media earlier this week following an ANC lekgotla, premier Phumulo Masualle said party leaders at the meeting made it clear that job creation had to be speeded up.
“The lekgotla has asked that efforts be stepped up in the revitalisation of the industrial parks. We will have to accelerate it with more companies being lured to come and work in those industrial parks,” Masualle said.
Gowa said they wanted “six large industries in the Dimbaza Industrial Revitalisation project”.
He said three were in “serious engagements” to relocate as anchor tenants to the zone. They were in the fields of aquaponics, hydroponics and food processing.
The Masualle-led executive noted the exodus of several companies from the province due to an unattractive economic environment in 2014.
The provincial executive committee assigned Somyo to undertake a fact-finding mission on the reasons for the closures of factories, which left for other towns only to find that some municipalities were charging higher electricity tariffs.
This was after the Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council alerted the provincial government that three companies were on the verge of moving to more viable cities.
These included Seating (Pty) Ltd, a Queenstown-based furniture factory; Vektronix (Pty) Ltd; and Time Clothing, based in East London.
Somyo said Seating had left last year but through the work of DTI and ECDC “we have managed to lure another listed investor”.
“In fact, we can safely say there will be a furniture factory to replace Seating in Queenstown.” — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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