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HomeFeaturedNamakwa Special Economic Zone, a Northern Cape first

Namakwa Special Economic Zone, a Northern Cape first

Be part of this modern, growing and successful province. Contact the team to secure your prime space within Namakwa SEZ today.

The Northern Cape has its first designated Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the Namakwa SEZ. Then Department of Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel designated Namakwa Special Economic Zone on 21 May 2024.

On 23 May 2024, the Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, announced the designation of the Namakwa SEZ, heralding a new era of industrial and economic prosperity for the province. Spanning 1 270 hectares, the Namakwa SEZ opens up huge opportunities for businesses in the province. This groundbreaking project aligns with national industrial policy, underscoring the province’s commitment to economic growth, innovation and sustainable development.

The SEZ has secured a significant investment of R29.3-billion, led by anchor investors Vedanta Zinc International and Frontier Rare Earths, demonstrating confidence in the province’s potential. This substantial investment will catalyse economic growth, create jobs and stimulate innovation across various sectors.

The anchor investor of the SEZ will be Vedanta Zinc International which is running the Gamsberg Zinc Mine. (Photo: Kevin Wright/Vedanta Zinc International)

The Namakwa SEZ is the cornerstone of the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor, harnessing the province’s abundant natural resources and transforming them into economic catalysts. It will enable the province to pioneer sustainable industrial pathways, contributing to the global green economy and aligning with the Northern Cape Green Hydrogen Strategy.

This SEZ will create a robust, diversified economic ecosystem, fostering Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and stimulating innovation. It will provide enhanced opportunities for the people of the Northern Cape, from direct employment to new business ventures within the ecosystem and value chains.

The Namakwa SEZ is more than an economic project; it’s a pledge to transform the socio-economic landscape of the province, making the Northern Cape a hub of economic activity and a beacon of growth. The SEZ represents the province’s commitment to harnessing the power of collaboration, innovation and sustainable development to shape a prosperous future.

Since the designation of Namakwa SEZ, significant momentum has been gained in advancing the project development pathways. This designation is aligned with the guidelines and strategy of the SEZ Act, which outlines the steps following designation, focusing on actual implementation.

Namakwa SEZ site map which is on some 1270.06 ha immediately adjacent to the Gamsberg Mine that belongs to Vedanta Zinc International. Image Source: NCEDA

The Northern Cape views this milestone as a crucial step towards its industrial ambitions, particularly in unlocking the Industrial Corridor. This effort is strongly supported as we enter into the 7th Administration’s commitment to streamline mega projects towards implementation.

Next steps

The next critical steps involve capacitating the Namakwa SEZ entity to facilitate project preparation activities. This includes prioritising the detailed engineering designs for bulk and link infrastructure. Furthermore, appointing personnel to oversee development in partnership with the Project Management Unit (PMU) at the Northern Cape Economic Development Agency (NCEDA) is vital for the project’s success.

The Namakwa SEZ is also poised to catalyse the Boegoebaai Green Hydrogen (GH2) development programme by attracting Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to the SEZ, thereby enabling green transformation and pathways to net-zero emissions by 2050.

Join the journey

Connect with the team and secure prime space within the zone and be part of this tremendous journey the province is embarking on to challenge and make inroads to the industrialisation of the Northern Cape.

Join us on this journey as we embark on transforming the Northern Cape into a dynamic hub of economic activity, driven by the vision of a sustainable, inclusive and innovative industrial future. The work starts here, and together, we will shape the future.

Be part of this modern, growing and successful province. Contact the team to secure your prime space within Namakwa SEZ today:

    Northern Cape Department of Economic Development - DEDAT logo

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