KwaZulu-Natal Business 2017-18 edition
KwaZulu-Natal Business 2017/18 is the ninth edition of this highly successful publication that has, since its launch in 2008, established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The 2017/18 edition includes special features on the Richards Bay area and its increasingly important Industrial Development Zone, the investment appeal of Durban and the growing maritime economy. Up-to-date overviews on the province’s economic sectors provide unique insights. Global Africa Network Media (www.gan.co.za), the publisher of KwaZulu-Natal Business, specialises in business-to-business print and electronic publications, producing a series of region-specific, annual print journals. Every province in South Africa is covered by this unique range of journals and websites, complemented by a national business guidebook, South African Business.
KwaZulu-Natal Business 2017/18 is the ninth edition of this highly successful publication that has, since its launch in 2008, established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The 2017/18 edition includes special features on the Richards Bay area and its increasingly important Industrial Development Zone, the investment appeal of Durban and the growing maritime economy. Up-to-date overviews on the province’s economic sectors provide unique insights.
Global Africa Network Media (www.gan.co.za), the publisher of KwaZulu-Natal Business, specialises in business-to-business print and electronic publications, producing a series of region-specific, annual print journals. Every province in South Africa is covered by this unique range of journals and websites, complemented by a national business guidebook, South African Business.
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INTERVIEW<br />
An energy hub for the<br />
country<br />
Pumi Motsoahae, CEO of Richards Bay Industrial<br />
Development Zone, explains why the allocation of a gas<br />
plant could be a game-changer.<br />
Pumi Motsoahae<br />
BIOGRAPHY<br />
Pumi Motsoahae has extensive<br />
experience in ports, shipping,<br />
logistics, freight transportation,<br />
infrastructure, property acquisition<br />
and project management.<br />
He began his studies at the<br />
National University of Lesotho<br />
(BA Administration), gained his<br />
Masters in Town and Regional<br />
Planning from the University of<br />
<strong>Natal</strong> (1993 – 1994) and studied<br />
in the Netherlands for a Post-<br />
Graduate Diploma in Shipping,<br />
Transportation and Logistics.<br />
He has also completed an<br />
Executive Development Programme<br />
(Supply-chain Management)<br />
at the Gordon Institute<br />
of <strong>Business</strong> Science.<br />
Does the RBIDZ have a role in promoting industrialisation?<br />
We are at the heart of the government’s programme of industrialisation.<br />
At the onset of the democratic dispensation, there were enduring<br />
questions on the economic side. Empowerment and enterprise<br />
development arose out of that, and then there was a programme to<br />
promote industrialisation.<br />
What are your focus sectors?<br />
While investigating the features that would attract investors we<br />
looked at metals beneficiation, given the heritage of the area with<br />
Richards Bay being the home to the largest aluminium smelter in the<br />
Southern Hemisphere (South32) and two heavy sands mines (Rio Tinto<br />
and Tronox).<br />
We are very strong in the ICT sector. We are spearheading an effort<br />
to create a pilot TechnoPark. Hosting the Maritime Academy, together<br />
with a focus on ICT, affords the opportunity for innovation and for<br />
creative young minds to flourish.<br />
The Richards Bay area is surrounded by high-yielding agricultural<br />
lands. We can harness that potential through agro-processing. We have<br />
set aside a notional 10ha area for a processing plant.<br />
Are you looking at renewable energy?<br />
Absolutely. We want Richards Bay to be the energy hub of the country.<br />
In April 2015, we signed Byromate (Ptd) Ltd to produce 60MW from<br />
biomass. We are targeting companies to manufacture solar panels<br />
here. There is a phenomenal opportunity to become an energy hub<br />
because of our geographic location near offshore gas fields. Last year<br />
we were awarded the production of 2 000MW from gas by the IPP<br />
office of the Department of Energy. We are quite excited about that.<br />
Please tell us about your most recent inward investments?<br />
We have quite a healthy investment pipeline. A total of R11.9-billion<br />
has been approved since 2013. Recent investments include Nyanza<br />
Light Metals (titanium dioxide plant, R4.5-billion), Sizabantu Piping<br />
System – SPS Molecor (comprehensive range of high-pressure PVC -O<br />
pipes, R300-million) and in other sectors such as logistics (Lovemore<br />
Brothers) and paint manufacturer (Prostar Paints).<br />
KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS <strong>2017</strong>/<strong>18</strong><br />
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