Sandton: Government has developed a Spatial Industrial Development (SID) Strategy to accelerate the rollout of major catalytic industrial projects, which will benefit small businesses and communities across the country's Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The successful implementation of the strategy and its potential positive impact dominated discussions at the SEZs Chief Executive Officers Forum in Sandton on Tuesday.

According to South African Government News Agency, the SEZs Advisor at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Maoto Molefane, stated that the SID Strategy aims to strengthen the effectiveness of spatial initiatives, unlock private sector-led investment, and increase overall socio-economic impact. Molefane emphasized the importance of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises work packages promoted by the Tshwane Automotive SEZ in achieving the greatest possible socio-economic impact through Afrocentric and transformative industrial enterprises with value-chain connections across several African nations.

Molefane further noted that a crucial element in achieving the strategy's goals is the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which seeks to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-African trade. A number of deliberate strategic interventions are outlined in the strategy document to enable the realization of these objectives, spanning governance to operational issues, and will be primarily championed by the dtic.

The Executive Director of the Industrial Zones Programme (IZP) at the Industrial Development Corporation, Lionel October, mentioned that the strategy emphasizes the need to scale up the SEZs across South Africa. Although the current investment climate is positive, it is not significantly impacting the broader economy. The strategy calls for a broader and more audacious approach to economic growth, with catalytic projects aimed at driving overall economic growth. Key components of the strategy also incorporate green energy-related projects.

October highlighted the R18 billion investment project in Richards Bay, led by the Nyaza project company. He explained that the project, expected to transform the geography of Richards Bay, will be the largest since Sasol, focusing on beneficiation, value addition, and exports.