The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has
completed the first phase of the revitalisation of the
Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park in the Free State.
At a cost of R50 million, the revitalisation included
the upgrading of security infrastructure, including
fencing, street lighting, installation of boom gates,
pedestrian gates, installation of CCTV cameras and a
control room, as well as the refurbishment of high mast
lights.
This initiative is part of the dti¡¦s Revitalisation of
Industrial Parks Programme, which aims to revitalise
state-owned industrial parks across the country in order
to promote industrialisation and increase their
contribution to job creation and the country¡¦s economic
growth.
According to the dti, the programme is also in line with
the department¡¦s economic transformation initiatives
aimed at ensuring that all regions of the country and
enterprises based there participate meaningfully in the
mainstream economy.
The Deputy Director-General of the Special Economic
Zones and Economic Transformation division at the dti,
Sipho Zikode, said the handover marked an important
milestone in the implementation of the revitalisation
programme.
¡§We are witnessing the fruits of the importance of
collaboration and using the expertise available in
government and its affiliates. The industrial parks and
the dti have collaborated with the Development Bank of
Southern Africa, who are our technical partners, the
Free State Provincial Government as well as the
Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality¡¨ .said Zikode.
¡§We are looking forward to the next milestone when the
national and provincial political leaders launch the
park officially. Thereafter, we will be embarking on the
second phase of the revitalisation programme,¡¨ said
Zikode.
He expressed confidence that the revitalised park would
attract more local entrepreneurs to set up their
operations in the park because of the good
infrastructure and security that the park is now
providing.
Ikraam Osman, the CEO of the Free State Development
Corporation, which manages the park, said the upgrading
would have a positive impact on the park and the
surrounding areas in that it would attract more
investors who would contribute to creating jobs for the
local people.
At the moment, the park, which was built more than 40
years ago, has 296 factories located in it.
The companies manufacture various products, including
textile and clothing, paper bags, furniture, leather
goods, including bags and belts, as well as aluminium
and glass products.
¡V Source:
SAnews.gov.za |