Free State Business 2017 edition

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OVERVIEW now accounts for about 40% of the nation’s soya bean production market. The provincial government has plans in place to invest in the development of the Free State apple industry in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District. The drought reached crisis proportions at times. At one point, Senwes decided to send emergency relief to farmers in the Bultfontein district, and South African Breweries chipped in to help with the transport to haul the bales. Potential Just over 90% of the Free State province is agricultural land, with 32% of its 11.6-million hectares classified as arable and 60% suitable for pasture. The agricultural sector is vital to the well-being of the province, both as a provider of food and jobs. But it also holds the potential in its raw materials to help the Free State expand its manufacturing sector. Provincial authorities are very upbeat about the potential for agri-processing. Investors are being encouraged to look at baby vegetables, wholesale meat production (including poultry) and leather manufacturing. CONTACT INFO Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Physical address: Gielie Joubert Street, Glen, Bloemfontein 9360 Tel: 051 861 8510 | Fax: 051 861 8578 / 086 723 8206 Website: www.ard.fs.gov.za Agricultural Research Council: www.arc.agri.za GrainSA: wwwgrainsa.co.za National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: www.daff.gov.za The Mangaung Fresh Produce Market plays a vital role in the sector, catering as it does to householders, bulk buyers, informal traders, agents and farmers. The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has highlighted the fact that only 11% of the province’s primary agricultural production is processed within the province’s boundaries. Improving on this percentage is key to the strategy known as Mohoma-Mobung. A sum of R30-million has been allocated to the first phase of the project. The key to commercialising these agricultural options is access to finance and the Industrial Development Corporation has been very active in the province in this sphere. Clover has three factories in the Free State: Bethlehem (milk powder, whey mixtures and creamers); Frankfort (butter, the largest such factory in the country, where ghee and rollerdried milk powder is also made); Heilbron (whey, buttermilk, condensed milk and packaging). A R45-million donation from the People’s Republic of China assisted with the construction of a Demonstration Fish Hatchery Centre, which is now operational and is staffed by three Chinese professors and a technician as part of a technological cooperation agreement. There are also plans to establish a mega Agri- Park in the Xhariep district comprising fish, ostrich, sheep and vegetable production, along with packaging and marketing. FREE STATE BUSINESS 2017 44
Mining Diamond mines are expanding production. OVERVIEW Although the mining sector is no longer dominant, coal-, gold and diamond – mining still make up an important part of the Free State economy. Reduced global and domestic demand have affected coal and gold miners and employment is down, but diamond production is on the up. The mining sector has seen significant changes in the last three years, and further changes are in store. Two of the most significant events were the unbundling of Gold Fields and the decision by Anglo American to concentrate on three minerals – copper, platinum and diamonds. Both affect the mining sector in the Free State. Sibanye Gold came into existence as a result of Gold Fields’ decision, and it quickly became the largest producer of gold in South Africa. Sibanye Gold is responsible for Beatrix in the Free State, but most of its gold assets are in Gauteng. Sibanye has bought several platinum assets and may be a buyer of some of Anglo American’s coal mines. The Sunday Times reported in July 2016 that Sibanye had paid out about SECTOR INSIGHT Petra Diamonds increased revenue by 44% in 2016. • Newcomer, Sibanye Gold, has paid out nearly R3-billion in dividends. R2.8-billion in dividends since it was established in 2013. Coal is mostly found in the northern part of the Free State and the gold fields, which form part of the Witwatersrand Basin, stretch from north of Welkom to south of Virginia. 45 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2017
Page 1 and 2: FREE STATE BUSINESS 2017 EDITION TH
Page 3 and 4: Sasol Business Incubator accelerate
Page 5 and 6: Letsemeng Tokologo Xhariep Mohokare
Page 7 and 8: MESSAGE A commitment to inclusive g
Page 9 and 10: SPECIAL FEATURE the rural economy a
Page 11 and 12: Ulco Northern Cape De Aar Smithfiel
Page 13 and 14: FOCUS FRANKFORT PAPER MILLS The est
Page 15 and 16: Why invest in solar generation plan
Page 17 and 18: FOCUS GREEN ENERGY IT Green Energy
Page 19 and 20: FOCUS VEHICLE DISTRIBUTION CENTRE F
Page 21 and 22: FOCUS CLOTHING MANUFACTURE Concept
Page 23 and 24: Reasons to invest in the Free State
Page 25 and 26: SPECIAL FEATURE How South Africa’
Page 27 and 28: FOCUS The IPTN - an artist’s impr
Page 29 and 30: SPECIAL FEATURE Enhancement Program
Page 31 and 32: SPECIAL FEATURE exchange controls e
Page 33 and 34: A full range of business solutions
Page 35 and 36: Making banking more accessible FOCU
Page 37 and 38: FOCUS and hydro-generation projects
Page 39 and 40: FOCUS Maths teacher, Mr Moyo, at Nt
Page 42 and 43: OVERVIEW Agriculture The grain-rich
Page 46 and 47: OVERVIEW Lucrative opportunities ex
Page 48 and 49: OVERVIEW Oil and gas Sasolburg is a
Page 50 and 51: OVERVIEW Manufacturing The Free Sta
Page 52 and 53: OVERVIEW Transport and logistics Th
Page 54 and 55: Bram Fischer International Airport
Page 56 and 57: INTERVIEW Poised for growth Esmaral
Page 58 and 59: OVERVIEW Phase Two in the construct
Page 60 and 61: OVERVIEW Education and training Acc
Page 62 and 63: LISTING Free State Provincial Gover
Page 64 and 65: LISTING Free State Local Government
Page 66 and 67: PROFILE Mangaung Chamber of Commerc
Page 68: Driving Economic Development in the

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