The 2023 edition of Free State Business is the 13th issue of this successful publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Free State.
Sasol, one of the biggest industrial enterprises in the province, has announced that it may have found a way to keep running the Natref refinery far into the future, because of new and cleaner technologies that it is investigating. Gold miners Harmony and Sibanye-Stillwater are prospecting for new reefs. And the provincial tourism authorities are putting their minds to creating new ways of attracting new local tourists to various eco-tourism products.
All of these news items and more are contained in the sector overviews that outline the characteristics of the main economic sectors of the province, and report on the latest news in those sectors as well. One of the most active sectors is a new one – natural gas and helium, which is being vigorously pursued by Renergen through its Virginia Gas Project. Significant investments are being attracted into the newly-established Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone (MAP SEZ) in the northern part of the province and a steel mill is under construction at the Botshabelo Industrial Park east of Bloemfontein. Special features on investment incentives and starting a business are included in this edition.
KEY SECTORS Overviews of
KEY SECTORS Overviews of the main economic sectors of the FreeState Agriculture 28 Mining 30 Oil and gas 32 Manufacturing 34 ICT 35 Tourism 36 Development finance and SMME 37 Education and training 38 The giant SASKO Bethlehem Mill employs 96 people and mills 144 000 tons of wheat annually. Its three production lines make cake flour and white-bread flour while a blending facility produces brown-bread meal and complete mixes. Credit: SASKO
