Mpumalanga Business 2017 edition
Mpumalanga Business 2017 is the seventh edition of this highly successful publication that has since its launch in 2008 established itself as the premier business and investment guide to Mpumalanga Province. Supported and utilised by the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), Mpumalanga Business is unique as a business journal that focuses exclusively on Mpumalanga.
Mpumalanga Business 2017 is the seventh edition of this highly successful publication that has since its launch in 2008 established itself as the premier business and investment guide to Mpumalanga Province. Supported and utilised by the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), Mpumalanga Business is unique as a business journal that focuses exclusively on Mpumalanga.
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PMS 3<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
HL Hall & Sons<br />
Holdings (Pty) Ltd<br />
This diversified group continues to make a significant<br />
contribution to the <strong>Mpumalanga</strong> economy.<br />
James Aling<br />
BIOGRAPHY<br />
James is currently the Managing<br />
Director of HL Hall & Sons<br />
Properties (Pty) Ltd, the property<br />
development business of<br />
the Halls Group. He has been<br />
involved with the Halls Group<br />
for 20 years during which time<br />
he has been involved in various<br />
roles and capacities. Prior to<br />
this he worked at the Development<br />
Bank of Southern Africa<br />
and KwaZulu-Natal Finance and<br />
Investment Corporation, now<br />
Ithala, as an agricultural economist<br />
and project manager.<br />
Please tell us more about the company.<br />
Halls has a long history of farming and agriculture in the province. To<br />
ensure its long-term sustainability, the company has evolved over its<br />
125-year history into a diversified group with operating businesses in<br />
fresh produce (Halls), property development (Halls Properties) as well as<br />
pharmaceuticals, technology and financial services (Halls Investments).<br />
What have been the highlights of the past year?<br />
The expansion of our French packing and handling facilities in<br />
both Paris and Marseille, in addition to opening a sales office in the<br />
Netherlands, served to strengthen Halls’ position as a leading producer<br />
and marketer of avocado.<br />
What have been the benefits of doing joint venture property<br />
developments in the Riverside Park precinct?<br />
Halls Properties has been involved in developing the Riverside node<br />
since 1995, when we acquired our first rights. Our joint venture approach<br />
has allowed us to partner with co-developers who have experience as<br />
well as to share the funding requirements, risks and rewards. Our most<br />
recent JV was the Riverside Development Initiative, a BEE initiative that<br />
developed the 35 000m² Grove shopping centre.<br />
How important has the development of specifically Riverside<br />
Mall been to the area?<br />
Riverside Mall was a catalytic anchor that stimulated the development<br />
of Riverside Park together with other big anchors, such as the Provincial<br />
Government complex and Emnotweni Sun’s hotels and casino. The<br />
continued development of the node together with the 2010 stadium<br />
and its associated infrastructure, the new university and high court are<br />
contributors to the growth of the region.<br />
What growth areas are you looking to explore?<br />
We are focused on Mbombela. We are excited about the partnerships<br />
we have established with Government, specifically with the Mbombela<br />
Local Municipality for the establishment of City Improvement Districts<br />
(CIDs) in the Riverside node and the establishment of the Mbombela<br />
Economic Development Partnership.<br />
MPUMALANGA BUSINESS <strong>2017</strong><br />
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