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The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Fikile Majola and the Premier of Mpumalanga, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, will undertake an oversight visit to the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga on Wednesday, 29 September 2021.
 
The purpose of the visit is to assess progress in the implementation of the Nkomazi SEZ  since its inception.  MEC for Finance Economic Development and Tourism in Mpumalanga, Mr Vusumuzi Mkhatshwa, Mayor of Ehlanzeni District, Councillor Jesta Sidell and the Mayor of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Mr Johan Mkhatshwa will also be part of the visit. 
 
The Nkomazi SEZ is implemented through the new Integrated District Development Model. The model pursues integrated planning and development at the district municipality, to accelerate service delivery by bringing together all the spheres of government (local, district, provincial and national) in partnership with business and the community.
 
Through this model, government aims to accelerate service delivery by providing support and resources to district municipalities. All key stakeholders will pursue industrial, infrastructure, skills development and investments through single and integrated plans per district.
 
“The Nkomazi Region consists of locational advantages which include endowment in agricultural resources, hence the SEZ is conceptualised as an agro-processing hub to drive development of the functional economic locality with a variety of services such as warehousing and logistics.  Due to its geographic proximity, this functional economic region is envisaged to draw linkages between South Africa, Mozambique,  eSwatini and Asian countries,” says Majola.
 
 According to Majola, the Nkomazi SEZ is better positioned to accelerate value chain development and industrialisation and better facilitate a well coordinated trade between a number of African countries through The African Continental Free Trade Agreements. 
 
The Nkomazi SEZ is one of the ten approved Special Economic Zones in the country. They are used to attract investment, create jobs, accelarate regional developemnt and facilitate economic growth.
 

Issued by The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)