Provincial MEC for Finance and Economic Opportunities David Maynier hosted a visit to the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) on Thursday 10 June.
Also at the event were Deputy Ministers of Trade, Industry and Competition Nomalungelo Gina and Fikile Majola.
The visit was part of the national department’s Siyahlola Programme, led by Gina, which seeks to assess progress made on key priority commitments to operationalise full steam implementation of the zone.
The focus of the SEZ is to development a world-class facility to attract renewable energy component manufacturers and suppliers in the Western Cape.
Said Maynier: “We remain committed to realising the immense potential of the green economy in the Western Cape through our continued support and promotion of the Atlantis SEZ. We look forward to working with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the City of Cape Town, investors and the Atlantis businesses and community to ensure that the Atlantis SEZ truly reaches its full potential.”
Dr Pierre Voges, CEO of ASEZ, gave a detailed presentation on the progress made to date on the implementation of the turnaround strategy for improving investment and development of critical infrastructure. The SEZ is pivotal towards development of renewable energy industry for the economic recovery of the Western Cape, Voges stated. The delegation also took opportunity to engage with the General Manager of Gestamp Renewable Industries (GRI) South Arica, Daniel Erasun-Mora, who is one of the major renewables energy component manufactures in the zone.
Major challenges faced by investors in the renewable energy sector that are located in the SEZ were also highlighted. Erasun-Mora also made a passionate plea to government to resolve the policy uncertainty on the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) by speeding the process of the Round 5 implementation and address local content manufacturing on designated steel products.
Gina said that the Atlantis Special Economic Zone has a crucial role in improving local socio-economic livelihood in the Atlantis community.
“Improving the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality continue to be the priority of the government,” she said. “We are delighted about the fruitful collaboration between national and province to coordinate and address challenges affecting industrialisation and investments under the District Development Model framework.”
Gina gave assurance that government will respond urgently to the challenges raised by investors which continue to affect operationalisation of their businesses in the zone.
