New opportunities for investors in the West Coast N
ew opportunities are emerging in specific sectors of the West Coast district. With the N7 being upgraded, the time it takes to travel from Malmesbury to Cape Town for instance is less than from Paarl, Somerset West or Stellenbosch. Businesses can serve the Cape Town market while enjoying lower operating costs, an excellent work ethic, lower crime and reduced risk with excellent local government support. Developers are providing new industrial, commercial and residential property. Protein, dairy and other food producers are moving closer to their markets to reduce transportation costs. They remain outside the metro boundaries, to gain cost advantages. Increasing numbers of logistics firms recognise the strategic location. Vehicle and equipment suppliers are growing as a services sector. The number of mines are increasing in Matzikama and a breakthrough with abalone production holds huge promise for supplying a lucrative market. In Cederberg the dam wall is being raised, meaning the bottleneck to agricultural growth is reduced. The Saldanha Industrial Development Zone, which is located at the deep-water port, includes a unique package of government incentives. The complete region offers a large variety of world-class tourism attractions, leisure activities and events. These include bouldering, hiking, kite surfing, surfing, skydiving, paragliding, cycling, canoeing, birding, music festivals, arts, culture, heritage and of course the unrivalled West Coast flowers. Country life at its best – topped off with local brews and great wine. A great place to live, work and play.
Swartland Municipality Swartland Municipality covers an area of 3 700 square kilometres, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Berg River in the east. To the south it borders the City of Cape Town, to the east the Drakenstein Municipality, to the north the Bergrivier Municipality and to the north-east Saldanha Bay Municipality. In 2016 the estimated population was 133 000. Swartland has displayed resilient economic growth through some trying market conditions both locally and abroad. The main competitive advantages are strategic location, low costs, low risk, a municipality that values business and growing investor confidence. Add to this the benefits of a sophisticated city that is still close enough to leverage when needed, while employees get to enjoy the best of both country life and the city. Similar to growth patterns of towns on the outskirts of cities worldwide, both businesses and citizens increasingly view the Swartland as a good place to locate. Investment growth is expected from sectors such as protein, dairy, agro-processing, transport, logistics, retail, services and construction sectors. Phase 1 of the Schoonspruit industrial development consisting of 13 erven will be available in the near future. www.swartland.org.za