Dube TradePort Corporation (DPTC) officially launched Dube TradeZone 2, the second phase of the industrial precinct and special economic zone adjacent to King Shaka International Airport, at an event on Friday.
The event, which was attended by government and business leaders, included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a preview of two factories worth more than R180 million, which are currently under construction within the precinct.
Dube Trade Port has so far attracted a total of R4.6 billion in private sector investment overall and has created more than 5 000 permanent jobs.
MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, said the investment in the project was a clear indication that SEZs are instruments for job creation and economic development.
As government we are focusing on SEZs for a good reason. They are designed for specific developmental purposes - to develop export-orientated industries, attract foreign direct investment and technology transfer and achieve the generation of employment opportunities, Duma said.
SEZs stand to be an effective instrument to resolve the disturbing levels of inequality, poverty and unemployment.
In addition to job creation, SEZs are broadening the municipal revenue collection base to improve the quality of life in municipal areas, as well as the quality of municipal services, he said.
DTPC board chair, Mpumelelo Zikalala, said despite the constrained economic environment over the past two years, the corporation had secured seven private sector investors forDube TradeZone 2.
Four of these investors have begun constructing their facilities. The total of R1.8bn in private sector investment has been secured for Dube TradeZone 2, which is expected to create 600 jobs over the next five years.
These include the R166m Yangtze Optical Africa Cable plant and a R17.5m development by HRMP, a 100% Black, South African-owned logistics company that specialises in the warehousing and distribution of graphite electrodes.
Dube TradeZone 2targets investors in the manufacturing and assembly, logistics and automotive sectors, while also facilitating theplanned expansion of several phase one-based enterprises.
The launch of the second phase follows the successful implementation of Dube TradeZone 1, which is fully tenanted by 50 investors, including Samsung, Mahindra, DHL, Chem Energy and PepsiCo-Futurelife.
Additional businesses located in the SEZ include LM Diapers, Tufbag, Futurelife and Conlog, which export to sub-Saharan African, Asia, Europe, and the United States. In 2023/24, Dube TradePort tenants exported goods worth R610m.
Phase two opens an additional 45 hectares of industrial land for development and brings to market another 23 fully serviced 3 000m to 57 000m sites. It will include three Dube TradePort-owned warehouses, one of which will accommodate medium-sized businesses to enable their expansion from mini-factories.
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