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ELIDZ’s targets a clean zone
Posted on: Friday, 28 April 2006. Article source: Daily Dispatch
The East London Industrial Development Zone wants to concentrate on medium-sized clean industries rather than dirty large industry.
IDZ chief executive Simphiwe Kondlo said yesterday at the sod-turning of the project’s automotive industry supply park that the city had the infrastructure to support this kind of industry.
The IDZ would concentrate on attracting investment for the automotive sector, agriculture and the information and communications technology (ICT) industries.
“The Eastern Cape has the climate and the land to produce a wide range of agricultural products,” he pointed out, “and by attracting clean industry it would be ideal for food processors to move in and add value to the province’s produce”.
Kondlo admitted that so far the area did not have everything it took to attract investment from the ICT sector but it was a desirable niche to attract as it fitted the IDZ aims of bringing in investment that would involve job creation and skills development of a globally competitive nature.
The automotive industry was already one of the mainstays of the area’s economy and the new supplier park for this sector was already attracting attention.
“We have already got four industries signed up and expect another seven to do so soon,” he said.
He declined to name them saying he was saving that announcement for next month.
Union Transport International (UTI) had won the tender to be the logistics hub for the new centre.
“We will have warehousing at the centre of the complex and will be part of the process to supply DaimlerChrysler with its parts,” UTI general manager Paul Firkin said.
The container and transport contract was awarded to Grindrod.
Kondlo said the supplier park had already attracted one original equipment manufacturer and the IDZ was looking for others.
The sod-turning also signalled the shift from the IDZ’s infrastructure phase – R210 million had been spent to establish the 430 hectare IDZ – to the attraction of investment.
To reinforce this Kondlo said there would be “commission” for anyone who brought potential investors to the IDZ if they fit the criteria and a deal was signed but he did not specify how much.
IDZ chief executive Simphiwe Kondlo said yesterday at the sod-turning of the project’s automotive industry supply park that the city had the infrastructure to support this kind of industry.
The IDZ would concentrate on attracting investment for the automotive sector, agriculture and the information and communications technology (ICT) industries.
“The Eastern Cape has the climate and the land to produce a wide range of agricultural products,” he pointed out, “and by attracting clean industry it would be ideal for food processors to move in and add value to the province’s produce”.
Kondlo admitted that so far the area did not have everything it took to attract investment from the ICT sector but it was a desirable niche to attract as it fitted the IDZ aims of bringing in investment that would involve job creation and skills development of a globally competitive nature.
The automotive industry was already one of the mainstays of the area’s economy and the new supplier park for this sector was already attracting attention.
“We have already got four industries signed up and expect another seven to do so soon,” he said.
He declined to name them saying he was saving that announcement for next month.
Union Transport International (UTI) had won the tender to be the logistics hub for the new centre.
“We will have warehousing at the centre of the complex and will be part of the process to supply DaimlerChrysler with its parts,” UTI general manager Paul Firkin said.
The container and transport contract was awarded to Grindrod.
Kondlo said the supplier park had already attracted one original equipment manufacturer and the IDZ was looking for others.
The sod-turning also signalled the shift from the IDZ’s infrastructure phase – R210 million had been spent to establish the 430 hectare IDZ – to the attraction of investment.
To reinforce this Kondlo said there would be “commission” for anyone who brought potential investors to the IDZ if they fit the criteria and a deal was signed but he did not specify how much.
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