Photo by: Duane Daws
President Jacob Zuma would next month officially launch the Dube Tradeport, in Durban, as an industrial development zone (IDZ), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced on Friday.
At the launch event, which was scheduled to take place on October 7, the Tradeport’s operator permit would be handed over, providing Dube Tradeport with the status of IDZ.
“The main areas that [are] designated as [part of the] Dube Tradeport IDZ are Dube Agrizone and Dube Tradezone. Dube Agrizone is about 63.5 ha and focuses on high-value, niche agricultural and horticultural products, while Dube Tradezone, which is 240.27 ha, focuses on manufacturing and value-addition primarily for automotive, electronic, fashion garments and similar high-value, time-sensitive products and inputs,” Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies said.
He added that the Dube Tradeport IDZ would be launched during a period of transition wherein IDZs, as governed by the Manufacturing Development Act, would become special economic zones (SEZs) under the new Special Economic Zones Act 16 of 2014, which had been assented by the President and was expected to come into effect before the end of this year.
Davies further said the launch of the Dube Tradeport IDZ would highlight the continuous efforts by government to promote industrialisation and create awareness about the SEZ programme, and its potential to grow the economy and create jobs through creating a conducive environment for foreign direct investment.