Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone is a positive for the Western Cape

Wesgro CEO Nils Flaatten believes that the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) will have a positive effect not only on the Saldanha Bay area but the Western Cape as a whole.

Monday saw the release of the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) feasibility study, whose aim was to investigate the viability of establishing an IDZ programme in Saldanha Bay, so as to inform the final decision-making by the Saldanha Bay Municipality and the Western Cape Provincial Government on whether to apply for designation of an IDZ programme by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) at Saldanha Bay.

Saldanha Bay has long been acknowledged as an important resource for the sustainable growth and development of the west coast region with the development of the deep-water port and the neighbouring industrial areas in the 1970s. Its economy is based on the manufacturing, agricultural, fishing, tourism and harbour industries.

According to Alan Winde, MEC for Finance, Economic Development & Tourism for the Western Cape, a number of jobs will be created over a 25 year period due to the establishment of the IDZ.

“Operational contributions to employment will climb steadily from zero to around 4,240 direct on-site jobs, amounting to 16% of the Saldanha Bay current employment, and 11,975 total direct, indirect and induced jobs, approximately 0.1% of the country’s current total formal employment,” he said.

The draft paper will be open for comment until the end of November, following which a decision with regards to the application for designation of the IDZ will be made.

source businesslive.co.za

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