Mpumalanga at a glance
Mpumalanga is rich in coal reserves and produces about 80% of the country’s coal. It contributes approximately 20% to the provincial GGP and is an important sector providing employment to the province’s workforce. A significant percentage of the province’s coal is exported to countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Japan.
Mpumalanga is also a home to South Africa’s major coal-fired power stations. Of 13 coal-fired power stations that Eskom operates, 11 are in Mpumalanga. This means that about 80% of Eskom’s supply chain is in Mpumalanga.
The province of Mpumalanga is one of South Africa’s most productive and important agricultural regions and plays a key role in the export profile of South Africa, primarily in fruit and nuts.
The Lowveld is South Africa’s second-biggest producer of citrus fruit, while more than half of South Africa’s soya bean crop is produced in Mpumalanga’s Highveld areas. Approximately 14% of the province’s land area is natural grazing land which is used in the production of beef, mutton, poultry, dairy and wool.
Agro-processing is centered primarily in the Lowveld region of Mpumalanga and it makes a valuable contribution to the provincial economy’s manufacturing sector.
Forestry is a key driver for the development of South Africa’s local economies, particularly in rural areas where the lack of employment opportunities compounds poverty. The bulk of South Africa’s forestry plantations are in Mpumalanga, making Mpumalanga the biggest producer of forest and wood products in the country.
The forestry sector comprises logging, saw-milling, wood products, pulp and paper, as well as specialized cellulose for global markets. Pulp, paper, and specialized cellulose are the main exports, along with sawn lumber, wood chips and wattle extract.
Mpumalanga has a diverse manufacturing sector that accounts for almost 15% of the provincial GGP.
The two primary pillars of the manufacturing sector in Mpumalanga, which account for more than 75% of the output for this sector, are the following:
a) Fuel, petroleum, and chemical products
b) Metal, machinery, and appliances
The fuel, petroleum and chemical products manufactured in Mpumalanga are essentially synthetic fuel and its by-products, which are produced from coal in the Highveld region of the province. The other major components of the manufacturing sector are the Ferroalloy, Steel and Stainless-Steel industries.
Mpumalanga Province has world-class parks and reserves, astonishing botanical gardens, rivers and lakes. It is the 2nd most visited province by international tourists in South Africa.
Mpumalanga, together with Limpopo province, host the renowned Kruger National Park – one of the largest game reserves in Africa.
Safaris are a major draw card and the Kruger National Park is the jewel in South Africa’s tourism crown, while subsectors such as business travel (including conference facilities), adventure, heritage and cultural tourism all hold huge growth potential.
Investment opportunities in Mpumalanga
Concrete investment projects have been identified and packaged for funding and equity partnerships, for consideration by potential investors and funders. Such projects are captured in the recently updated Mpumalanga Investment Book, available here:
Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA)
The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) is the official Economic Development Agency for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.
MEGA provides a variety of services to potential investors and trading partners. MEGA staff will go out of their way to make the process of investing in Mpumalanga or starting a business in the province easy. MEGA is focussed on customer needs and provides innovative solutions with a high level of service.
Contact MEGA today
Potential investors are encouraged to contact MEGA with a brief introduction through the secure contact form below:
