The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, has signed the Shareholders’ Compact for the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), reaffirming the City’s partnership in growing the green manufacturing hub and attracting further investment into Atlantis.
The City played an important role in establishing the SEZ, including packaging and making approximately 96 hectares of City-owned land available for its development, and remains a shareholder in the entity.
‘A great deal of work has gone into getting the Atlantis SEZ to where it is today. The City put land on the table to help make this possible, and our Economic Development and Investment Department continues to work alongside the SEZ team and the Western Cape Government to attract investors and facilitate businesses wanting to establish or expand here.
‘The results are showing, with more than R3 billion in investment attracted, over 800 jobs created and four large-scale investors already fully operational in the zone. Importantly, there is more to come, with a growing investment pipeline and funding secured for two new manufacturing facilities, and several smaller start-up units in the Green Manufacturing Hub,’ said Alderman Vos.
The SEZ has also reached important infrastructure milestones, including the completion of civil works in Zone 1 and its designation as a Customs-Controlled Area, strengthening Atlantis as a location for export-oriented green manufacturing.
According to Alderman Vos, the benefits of these investments extend well beyond the boundaries of the SEZ.
‘When we land a manufacturer, the impact doesn’t stop at the factory gate. That business needs suppliers, logistics, engineering, maintenance, and many other services, creating opportunities for local SMMEs and businesses in Atlantis and the surrounding industrial areas.
‘That is why our work is not only about attracting the big investor. It is also about helping local businesses become part of the supply chain so that more of the economic benefit stays in the area,’ said Alderman Vos.
The ASEZ continues to support enterprise and skills development initiatives aimed at helping local businesses and residents participate in opportunities generated by investment into the zone.
Its work has also received national recognition from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), which awarded the Atlantis SEZ the Demonstration of Good Governance Award.
‘Good governance and investor confidence go hand in hand. Investors want to know that they are dealing with capable partners and that there is a solid platform from which they can grow.
‘The City has helped put the land and partnerships in place. Now the focus is on keeping that momentum going, bringing in the next investors, getting more factories operating and creating more jobs and opportunities for Atlantis and the region,’ said Alderman Vos.
