South African Business 2019 edition
The 2019 edition of South African Business is the seventh edition of this annual guide to business and investment in South Africa. Regular pages cover all the main economic sectors of the South African economy and give a snapshot of each of the country’s provincial economies. Feature articles on topical issues such as Special Economic Zones and African trade provide unique insights, together with comprehensive overviews of critical economic sectors. Other special features focus on the exciting new possibilities in renewable energy, airports as engines of regional growth and the maritime sector as an entirely new prospect for South African entrepreneurs and businesses. South African Business is complemented by nine regional publications covering the business and investment environment in each of South Africa’s provinces. The e-book editions can be viewed at www.globalafricanetwork.com
The 2019 edition of South African Business is the seventh edition of this annual guide to business and investment in South Africa.
Regular pages cover all the main economic sectors of the South African economy and give a snapshot of each of the country’s provincial economies. Feature articles on topical issues such as Special Economic Zones and African trade provide unique insights, together with comprehensive overviews of critical economic sectors. Other special features focus on the exciting new possibilities in renewable energy, airports as engines of regional growth and the maritime sector as an entirely new prospect for South African entrepreneurs and businesses.
South African Business is complemented by nine regional publications covering the business and investment environment in each of South Africa’s provinces. The e-book editions can be viewed at www.globalafricanetwork.com
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The Upington SEZ<br />
boasts several<br />
advantages<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
Thobela Dikeni, CEO of the Upington SEZ, explains how<br />
climate and location enhance the value proposition.<br />
Thobela Dikeni<br />
BIOGRAPHY<br />
Thobela Dikeni has held various<br />
managerial positions in the<br />
private sector, including senior<br />
positions at Standard Bank and<br />
FNB (where he was Director Public<br />
Sector Banking). He was Director<br />
<strong>Business</strong> Development and Africa<br />
for Naspers’ subsidiary Paarl<br />
Media. He has studied Economics<br />
and Management and attended<br />
several executive development<br />
programmes at international<br />
institutions. He is currently studying<br />
for a Master’s degree in Information<br />
and Knowledge Management. He<br />
has served on private and public<br />
sector boards.<br />
What sectors are you hoping to attract to the SEZ?<br />
In the first phase, renewable energy and aviation. These sectors are the<br />
focus of the Economic Development sector of the Northern Cape and<br />
in line with the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS).<br />
How does the location of the SEZ support the business<br />
case for investing?<br />
Renewable energy: Upington is an area with warm weather and long<br />
sunny days for solar energy generation. The increasing and sustained<br />
demand for photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP)<br />
systems will produce a number of assembly opportunities for PV<br />
panels and inverters as well as CSP in-field mirrors, structures and backward<br />
integration of manufacturing facilities. European and Chinese<br />
companies continue to express interest in establishing solar energy<br />
component manufacturing and assembly plants. About 440ha of land<br />
is set aside for the development of a solar farm with a complete EIA<br />
for industrial development.<br />
Aviation: An arid climate which is not susceptible to accelerated corrosion<br />
and deterioration and the availability of relatively low-cost open<br />
land are positive factors. Upington is close to the northern border of<br />
<strong>South</strong> Africa which makes it convenient and strategic from the <strong>African</strong><br />
continental perspective and its relative remoteness enhances security<br />
considerations.<br />
How important is the airport?<br />
Successful SEZs are attached to ports, whether airport or sea port.<br />
Therefore, the proximity to an airport will assist the value proposition<br />
and logistics connectivity of the SEZ. Upington Airport has an unusually<br />
long runway (5km) that serves as a designated <strong>African</strong> landing site for<br />
the shuttles of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).<br />
What progress has been made in getting the SEZ off<br />
the ground?<br />
Positive feasibility studies have been conducted. Environmental Impact<br />
Assessments have been completed. A Record of Decision has been<br />
received. The application for designation was submitted in May 2018.<br />
39 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS <strong>2019</strong>
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