The 2023/24 edition of Mpumalanga Business is the 14th issue of this successful publication that since its launch in 2008 has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the province.
Introduced by a warm message of welcome to potential investors from the CEO of the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), this edition of the journal also contains the official Mpumalanga Investment Prospectus, a comprehensive survey of the province’s assets and the potential of the region. Major catalytic projects such as the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) and the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market (MIFPM) are examined in detail, outlining how producers, processors and logistics firms stand to benefit and where there is potential for investment.
In addition to the Prospectus, the journal contains a special feature on how the province is leading the field in going green in various projects across several sectors. Sector overviews give up-to-date news on what is going on in the key sectors of the provincial economy, as well as giving a more general view of conditions pertaining to that sector.
CONTENTS
CONTENTS MpumalangaBusiness2023/24 Edition Introduction Foreword 8 Mpumalanga’s unique guide to business and investment. Special features Regional overview of Mpumalanga 12 The transition away from coal and other fossil fuels presents a huge challenge but in Mpumalanga a series of innovative and bold partnerships is tackling the task head on. South Africa’s biggest wind farm project has also begun in the province previously known for coal and power stations. Mpumalanga Trade and Investment Profile 15 The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) profiles the province’s economy and outlines specific investment opportunities. Going green 26 Mpumalanga is famously fertile, but it’s a different kind of green that is changing the energy landscape of South Africa’s biggest power producer. Economic sectors Agriculture 38 The macadamia industry is growing fast. Forestry and paper 39 An agroforestry project plans to convert unused land. Mining 42 Energy and efficiency are key for the province’s miners. Oil and gas 48 Sasol partnerships point to a new path. MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2023/24 4
Mpumalanga: a world-class tourism destination A South African province that has everything a tourist could want. Travellers should prepare to be astounded by the natural attractions and experiences that are on offer in Mpumalanga. It is South Africa’s most easterly province, endowed with an extraordinary richness of natural beauty from canyons and waterfalls and with scope for a huge diversity of adventures and experiences ranging from encounter-rich game drives to paragliding. Mpumalanga offers a wide array of activities for the active tourist, ranging from abseiling to white-water-river rafting, with fly-fishing, paragliding, mountain biking, bungee jumping, hiking, 4x4 trails and many outdoor adventure activities in between. Mpumalanga is undoubtedly the ultimate destination in terms of wildlife experience. The Kruger National Park, Manyeleti, Loskop Dam and numerous private game reserves dotted throughout the region offer an exhilarating experience that brings visitors closer to nature. Mpumalanga boasts a conservancy area that is rich with diverse flora and fauna. The Panorama Route offers spectacular landscapes with attractions like the Blyde River Canyon (third-largest in the world and known as a “green canyon” because of its subtropical vegetation, pictured). The province also boasts majestic waterfalls and high-altitude scenic drives leading to attractions like God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels. Mpumalanga’s rich heritage is still largely unexplored but more and more visitors are being exposed to fascinating history. The many heritage sites in the area include the Samora Machel monument near Mbuzini and the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site (pictured), boasting rock formations dating back more than 3.5-billion years. Other sites not to be missed are the mining village of Pilgrim’s Rest, the Highveld Heritage Route (which abounds with adventurous tales from history), the stone circles of Mpumalanga and Goliath’s footprint to name just a few. Mpumalanga is rich in culture and boasts the Swazi, Ndebele and Shangaan people with icons like Dr Esther Mahlangu who has managed to preserve, package and export the vibrant geometric art of the Ndebele globally. Bird watchers can have a glimpse of more than 500 different birds endemic to the Kruger National Park or the town of Chrissiesmeer, the centre of South Africa’s own Lake District where four river systems start their journeys across the country. The small tourist town of Dullstroom is referred to as South Africa’s trout-fishing mecca. Mpumalanga is an ideal sporting destination with several world-class golf courses and the Mbombela Stadium that was built for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and has subsequently hosted international football and rugby matches. Get off the beaten track and explore the many other tourism offerings of the Mpumalanga Province. For more information: Email: info@mtpa.co.za and reservations@mtpa.co.za Website: www.mpumalanga.com Facebook: Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency | Twitter: @Mtpatourism | Instagram: @mpumalangatourism
