Free State Business 2021
The 2021 edition of Free State Business is the 11th issue of this successful publication that, since its launch, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Free State. The Free State has varied investment and business opportunities and the Free State Development Corporation describes some of these in detail in these pages. Drilling for natural gas is a new phenomenon which may spark activity in other sectors and this journal notes significant new investments and projects in the chemicals and mining sectors. The official launch of the Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) was a significant event for the economy of South Africa’s most centrally located province. Located on the strategically significant N3 highway that links the economic heartland of South Africa to the coast, the MAP SEZ has the potential to attract new investors and spark a revival in the manufacturing sector. In addition, overviews on each of the key economic sectors provide up-to-date information on trends in the mining and tourism sectors, for example. Regular information about the size and nature of each sector is also included.
The 2021 edition of Free State Business is the 11th issue of this successful publication that, since its launch, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Free State. The Free State has varied investment and business opportunities and the Free State Development Corporation describes some of these in detail in these pages. Drilling for natural gas is a new phenomenon which may spark activity in other sectors and this journal notes significant new investments and projects in the chemicals and mining sectors. The official launch of the Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) was a significant event for the economy of South Africa’s most centrally located province. Located on the strategically significant N3 highway that links the economic heartland of South Africa to the coast, the MAP SEZ has the potential to attract new investors and spark a revival in the manufacturing sector. In addition, overviews on each of the key economic sectors provide up-to-date information on trends in the mining and tourism sectors, for example. Regular information about the size and nature of each sector is also included.
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SPECIAL FEATURE<br />
A regional overview<br />
of <strong>Free</strong> <strong>State</strong><br />
By John Young<br />
A regional overview<br />
of the <strong>Free</strong> <strong>State</strong><br />
By John Young<br />
With acquisitions in the chemicals sector, drilling about to start for<br />
natural gas and the bedding down of a new Special Economic Zone,<br />
there are opportunities for growth in the <strong>Free</strong> <strong>State</strong> economy.<br />
As of February 2020, nearly 100 new<br />
permanent jobs had been created within<br />
the Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic<br />
Zone (MAP SEZ), the strategically located<br />
area on the N3 highway designed to attract new<br />
investment to the <strong>Free</strong> <strong>State</strong> Province.<br />
Sectors prioritised at the MAP SEZ include<br />
logistics, ICT, automotive, pharmaceuticals,<br />
manufacturing and agro-processing. The 1 000ha<br />
site has four zones: agro-processing, light industrial,<br />
heavy industrial and a container terminal. Control<br />
of the project now rests with the provincial<br />
Department of Small <strong>Business</strong> Development,<br />
Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA).<br />
Other areas that are being upgraded to provide<br />
infrastructure to encourage manufacturing are the<br />
Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park and the Botshabelo<br />
Industrial Park. The N3 is South Africa’s busiest<br />
road and the Highway Junction truckstop at the<br />
entrance to Harrismith claims to be Africa’s biggest.<br />
More than 1 500 vehicles pass through every day<br />
and three forecourts cater to three fuel brands.<br />
Refuelling, storage and handling take place here,<br />
highlighting the province’s strengths in logistics as<br />
the country’s most central province.<br />
The country’s two great highways pass through<br />
the province. The N3 links the ports of Richards<br />
Bay and Durban with the industrial heartland and<br />
the N1 provides north-south connectivity. The<br />
provincial capital, Bloemfontein, is another logistics<br />
hub. Three other national highways intersect the<br />
province which is also well served by rail and air<br />
links. The Bram Fischer International Airport serves<br />
the provincial capital.<br />
Links to the west (Kimberley and on to<br />
Namibia) and east (to Lesotho) underpin the<br />
planning behind the N8 Corridor concept which<br />
covers Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu.<br />
A plan for the coordinated development of the N8<br />
Corridor has been approved by a range of bodies<br />
and is being funded by the Development Bank<br />
of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Mangaung<br />
Metropolitan Municipality.<br />
Projects and purchases<br />
The Omnia Group is present in 45 countries,<br />
has more than 4 400 employees and a net asset<br />
value of R9.7-billion (March 2020). The company’s<br />
agricultural and chemicals divisions have a large<br />
FREE STATE BUSINESS <strong>2021</strong><br />
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