DURBAN, August 20 (ANA) - The Dube Trade Port in KwaZulu-Natal has been identified as one of the best-performing special economic zones (SEZs) in South Africa, attracting 42 investments worth R1.8 billion (about US$105 million).
“The special economic zones are increasingly becoming important tools used to drive industrialisation globally,” said Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) Nomalungelo Gina.
The deputy minister was speaking during a virtual meeting attended by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala and Economic Development MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
The meeting, which aimed to strengthen the relationship between the DTIC and the provincial leadership, noted that the reinvigoration of SEZs was vital to accelerating economic growth.
“We need to ensure that locals are empowered and that there is sustainability of the projects in different industrial parks,” Gina said in a statement on Thursday.
“So far up to R760 million has been approved for the first two phases of the revamp programme which is rolled out in state-owned industrial parks throughout the country.”
The DTIC said a sector identified as “social economy” will be a catalyst for job creation.
“It is estimated that if social economy jobs increased by an achievable 2% every year, it could add 250,000 jobs to the economy by 2030,” said Gina.
Meanwhile, just south of the Dube Trade Port, at Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) in Isipingo, Zikalala was on Thursday expected to receive a donation from the car-manufacturing giant.
TSAM will donate 10 Toyota Hilux Legend 50 4x4 vehicles to the provincial government as part of a partnership between the private and public sector in the fight against Covid-19.
“The vehicles will be donated to the provincial Department of Health,” said the premier’s office on Wednesday.
- African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher
