Free State Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Makalo Mohale has launched the Industrialisation Support Incentives Programme.
The objectives of the programme are to stimulate local domestic manufacturing and production; to ensure job retention and job creation within industrial zones; to reduce economic concentration; assisting small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) to transition to industrial production levels; and to stimulate participation in large business and government supply chains.
The programme emanates from the Free State Regional Industrialisation Policy, in line with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s Revitalisation of Industrial Parks Programme, which is implemented throughout the country to renovate State-owned industrial parks that are located in historically disadvantaged areas.
The focus for the initiative will be at the Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic Zone, as well as the Phuthaditjhaba, Thaba ‘Nchu and Botshabelo industrial areas.
Mohale says the incentive will ensure that industrial parks become more attractive to potential investors.
Further, it will ensure that informal and emerging manufacturers have access to proper industrial infrastructure that will allow them to grow their businesses, he adds.
“This is a decisive action to enhance the work already done in these areas, this time focusing at propelling SMMEs in those areas to production levels.
"Our emphasis is to ensure that our people access opportunities that will ensure that the means of production are in their hands," he states.
The budget for the programme is R10.11-million a year over the medium term expenditure framework.