Limpopo Provincial Government

ON A PATH OF ACCELERATED GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT CREATION

The province hosted a twoday investment conference 01-02 September 2021 that set out to attract local and international investment; create a network of investors, industry experts and key stakeholders in pursuit of industrialisation; and receive investment pledges for:

• New enterprises in the Mining and Mineral Beneficiation sector

• Opening of new enterprises in the Agriculture and Agro-processing sector

• New enterprises in Renewable and Alternative Energy sector

• Investment in Tourism opportunities

• Infrastructure development supporting the Industrialisation Programme

• More uptake for the SEZ and Industrial Park

• Manufacturing Infrastructure

Addressing the conference virtually, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the conference forms part of government’s national effort which was announced in 2018 to attract foreign investment of 1.2 trillion over five years. “The conference draws together investors across the country, from across the continent and the world for new and further investment in the beautiful province of Limpopo,” said President Ramaphosa.

The Hon President said Limpopo is endowed with vast mineral deposits and is blessed with fertile soil, a place of immense scenic beauty, numerous heritage sites and other natural wonders. He said that investments into the province should contribute to the development of integrated value chains that generate sufficient and significant added value for the economy as a whole and that the value chains should create further opportunities for the emergence of more small, medium and microenterprises. He said the other added advantage is that Limpopo is the home of a number of well-educated people, skilled people and young people who are ready and willing to work and to acquire the necessary skills to work.

Limpopo Premier Hon. Stan Mathabatha said the success of the conference will reflect in the upliftment of the socio-economic status of the people of the province and added that the conference is an important catalyst for the most strategic flag-ship economic development project in the province, the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone. “The SEZ presents abundant opportunities for Limpopo in manufacturing, agro processing, pharmaceutical, automotive, mining and steel manufacturing which will result in job opportunities,” he said. Mathabatha said the SEZ is a priority for Limpopo and government continues to invite prospective investors to partner with the SEZ to make the project a resounding success.

It was clear from the conference that government aimed at working together with the private sector to intensify its investment drive in order to safeguard the lives and the livelihoods of the people in Limpopo, stimulate economic growth, create much-needed employment opportunities and reduce the ballooning gap of inequality. With the support of national government, the Musina-Makhado SEZ project was positioned as an apex priority in the province, with mining, agriculture and tourism as the three provincial key economic focus areas. In his opening address Mathabatha stated that, “Our people believe in solidarity and partnerships, and that’s exactly the spirit that drives our government. We believe that it is through working together as government and the private sector that we can eradicate the economic challenges facing our people.”

Tourism

It was highlighted that Limpopo had the competitive advantage being endowed with abundant natural resources, including 54 provincial reserves and countless private game reserves.

The latest available data indicates that Limpopo is the second most popular destination for international arrivals and still leads the pack as number one with regard to domestic tourism. Mathabatha believes that Tourism is alive with possibilities, a great growth point in the province, and is confident that investors will be pleased to explore the tourism sector, and leverage opportunities that are available.

Mining Sector

The opportunities in Limpopo are ripe for investment, and the Premier called on partnerships and collaborations with private investors to take full advantage of these mostly untapped mineral deposits and pledged that the province would journey together with the investors to eradicate the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality. The province is the richest when it comes to mineral deposits and has an abundance of minerals such as platinum, chrome, coal and diamonds.

Other sectors

Hon President Ramaphosa said government is undertaking farreaching structural reforms in the energy, transport and water sectors and has already taken several steps to achieve security of electricity supply for the whole country including restructuring Eskom into separate entities for generation, transmission and distribution. Government is also continuing to make improvements in the turnaround time for the issuing of water licenses and will reduce the waiting time for a water licence substantially. He said capital investment in our ports and freight rail infrastructure are being increased and progress is being made in increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of our ports.

Uniquely positioned and sharing borders with three of our neighbouring countries: Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the province is a gateway to a potential market of 300 million people just in the Southern African Development Community region. Added to this SA has a favourable tax regime to ensure decent returns, a sophisticated financial sector to manage complex transactions, and an independent judiciary able to enforce legal provisions and contracts.

Limpopo is open for business!