Premier Alan Winde and Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities David Maynier visited the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) on Wednesday 14 October to see the progress made on this important infrastructure investment. These, Winde said, are set to play a key role in the development of the renewable energy industry and the economic recovery of the Western Cape.
As a shareholder of the ASEZ, the Western Cape government has worked hard to support the establishment of this greentech, export-orientated manufacturing hub to attract investment leading to increased exports and localisation of green technologies. This, Winde pointed out, will ultimately enable the green economy to create jobs in the Western Cape. He and Maynier first visited Kaytech Engineered Fabrics, which manufactures geotextiles and geosynthetic solutions used by the civil engineering industry from locally sourced pre- and post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
Established in 1977, Kaytech Engineered Fabrics employs approximately 150 people, most of whom come from the Atlantis area, and contributes to more than 5 000 income earning opportunities throughout their pipeline. In 2016, when it registered its intention to be recognised as a SEZ company, the company invested R130 million in an extension to the plant.
Much progress has been made since the ASEZ was officially established as an unscheduled State-Owned Enterprise in December 2019, with a key highlight being the recent decision by the City of Cape Town on 30 July 2020 to transfer the designated SEZ land to the Atlantis SEZ Company. To date, the ASEZ has attracted approximately R700 million in investment, creating upwards of 300 direct jobs in Atlantis. There is a significant pipeline of investments in development, and it is anticipated over the next 10 years, the ASEZ will provide a cumulative GDPR contribution of R1,2 billion, according to 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 ASEZ.
“We look forward to working with the Department of Trade and Industry, the City of Cape Town, investors and the Atlantis businesses and community to ensure that the ASEZ reaches its full potential because it is critical to our economic recovery plans in the Western Cape.”
The Western Cape has built a reputation as a leading green-tech manufacturer, and the creation of a dedicated green manufacturing hub at Atlantis will only further cement this. According to Winde, the world is moving towards greener manufacturing, and the ASEZ, attracting job creation investments that contribute towards innovation and sustainability.
