Aerotropolis dream makes headway

Gauteng’s OR Tambo International Airport (Ortia) aerotropolis dream will take a step forward this month (September) when the contract for the design of the new airport city in Ekurhuleni will be awarded. Head of the government’s aerotropolis steering committee, Jack van der Merwe, confirmed to FTW at the time of going to print that the design contract was “days away” from being awarded. According to the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), the aerotropolis will “provide a new commercial hub for the Gauteng Province and support both local and international trade through Free Trade Zones and the increased efficiencies related to clustering. It will attract industries related to time-sensitive manufacturing, e-commerce fulfilment, telecommunication and logistics, hotels, retail outlets, entertainment complexes and offices for business people who travel frequently.” The GGDA notes that it will comprise clusters of business parks, logistics parks, industrial parks, distribution centres, information technology complexes and wholesalers who are located around the airport and along transportation corridors, serving the airport. The latest investor is Johannesburg-based Krisp Properties which is investing more than R500 million in a commercial project, the Clearwater Office Park, which is aimed at complementing the OR Tambo aerotropolis, according to a statement on the company’s website. Situated on Atlas Road, the 20 000sqm (GLA) Clearwater Office Park has been taken up by companies such as Discovery Health, Old Mutual, Absa Bank and Imperial Air Cargo.