Western Cape Business 2019 edition

The City of Cape Town established
a greentech manufacturing hub in Atlantis
in 2011, in response to the Department of
Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent
Power OVERVIEW
Producer Programme (REIPPP).
Localisation of manufacturing and the
resultant job creation is one of they key
priorities of government through the REIPP
programme. The hub has already attracted
its first large Greentech investor, Gestamp
Renewable Industries (GRI). A wind tower
manufacturer, GRI has already invested
R300m and is in full-scale production.
Manufacturing
The Atlantis Special Economic Zone is poised for growth.
the proposed Atlantis SEZ (ASEZ) capitalises
on the province’s already booming
renewable energy and green
technology sector.
Greentech refers to green technologies
that reduce or reverse the impact of
people on the planet. This includes
renewable energy technologies.
Wind turbines, solar panels, insulation,
biofuels, electric vehicles, materials
recycling and green building materials
are all examples of green technology.
SECTOR INSIGHT
Green Cape has won
international recognition.
Siemens wind towers manufactured at Gestamp Renewable
Industries in Atlantis.
- Siemens wind towers manufactured at Gestamp Renewable Industries in Atlantis -
The Atlantis Special Economic Zone, which is due to be officially
certified soon, has already attracted nearly R700-million in
private-sector investment.
A Moody’s report on the green economy in Africa states
that South Africa has the fastest-growing green sector in Africa,
and one of the fastest-growing in the world. The Western Cape
is driving a green economy manufacturing strategy focussed on
Atlantis. About 70% of South Africa’s manufacturing in renewables
is happening in the Western Cape.
Atlantis was chosen in 2017 as the site of a new factory for
Czech fabric manufacturer PEGAS Nonwovens. At R1.3-billion, the
investment is the biggest secured by Wesgro and Into SA since 2011.
Training for local residents employed by the manufacturer will take
place in the Czech Republic.
Fridge manufacturer Hisense, already established at Atlantis, is
exploring ways to make its product greener, either through its own
processes or via its suppliers. The 500 employees at the Atlantis
factory produce fridges and televisions that are exported to 13
African countries.
Green Cape is an agency that does research and runs projects
in areas such as energy efficiency, waste, water and sustainable
agriculture. It is a joint initiative of the City of Cape Town, Wesgro
and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape. The Western
Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), which encouraged
manufacturers to use the waste
products of other businesses,
won international recognition in
2018 when it was runner-up in the
Circular Awards at Davos.
Growth in the Western Cape
manufacturing sector between
2003 and 2013 averaged 2.2%
and the Provincial Economic
Review and Outlook predicts the
same level of growth to 2020. A
diverse manufacturing sector
contributes 15% to the Western
Cape’s GDP.
The agri-processing sector
(including food and beverages
and tobacco) is the largest
employer (24%) followed
by metals, metal products,
machinery and equipment at
19%. A proposed Cape Health
Technology Park will further boost
the growth of the manufacture of
medical devices.
The decision by Britain to
leave the European Union has led
to increased interest in bilateral
trading relations with individual
European countries. France has
established a tech hub in Cape
Town and Business France has
been facilitating a number of
conferences and visits. More
than 300 French firms currently
operate in South Africa.
WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2019
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