In his State of the Province address on Monday, February 23, the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, announced a total 29 industries which will be taken and linked to the Aerotropolis, which are important to building a viable city region.
“Together with the EMM and national government, we are now undertaking 29 industrial initiatives, under the banner of the Aerotropolis, to revitalise manufacturing, aviation, transport and logistics industries linked to the OR Tambo International Airport,” said Premier Makhura.
He said the Aerotropolis project has now been adopted by the GCR.
“Because of the inter-regional nature and trans-formative magnitude of the Aerotropolis and its effect of the GCR economy, this project has now been elevated to being a Gauteng City Region-wide initiative,” said Premier Makhura.
He also mentioned other unfolding projects designed to fuel re-industrialisation in Ekurhuleni.
“Prasa is rolling out approximately 7 224 new rolling stock units with a projected investment of R123-billion over a period of 20 years. A total of 30 000 jobs will be created over the same period. With regard to Transnet’s investment in the inland ports of Tambo Springs and Sentrarand, this will also have a major impact in revitalising the economy of Ekurhuleni. This project will create a total of 110 000 jobs over 15 years,” he said.
Premier Makhura announced that major stakeholders, including the Airports Company of South Africa and Denel, are positioning themselves in line with the imperatives of the Aerotropolis.
He said there is great potential for the projects to draw massive foreign direct investments into the OR Tambo Investment Development Zone and Special Economic Zone.
