Investment incentive: Planning Committee 

Businesses, manufacturing and industry in Middelburg need to strategically realign themselves in order to achieve growth and expansion in these difficult times. 

The success of any process, plan or strategy depends on the active and committed involvement of all stakeholders; without this involvement, no initiative can hope to succeed. Without private sector participation in economic planning and government initiatives, there is no guarantee that economic growth will be fuelled in a way that is beneficial to businesses. From the same perspective, thriving businesses need solid government support and a well-developed infrastructure to flourish. In light of the opportunities presented at our industrial zone workshop, the (MCCI) has organised the first meeting of the planning committee. 

The main topic of this meeting was the functioning of the SPV and how it should be structured to ensure its success. We are required to obtain the general environmental impact assessment for the entire region. To ensure a seamless exchange of documents between stakeholders, an initial meeting was held with Steve Tshwete to facilitate the creation and distribution of a shared document folder to be utilised by the Planning Committee members and later made available to the SPV. With all the necessary procedures in place, the hardworking planning committee is determined to attract and secure investment from manufacturers to ensure the success of the project. 

Although a number of industrial zones have been successful, it must also be recognised that there are several Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that have been unsuccessful despite significant investment and represent a considerable waste of resources. 

If you are a member and are interested in participating, you should email Anna-Marth Ott at ceo@middelburgchamber.com.