An aerotropolis is an urban plan in which the layout, infrastructure and economy are centred on an airport and exists as an airport city.
Ekurhuleni hopes to achieve the same with the OR Tambo International Airport.
The COI is lobbying businesses to take advantage of one of the massive projects to hit Ekurhuleni.
At the meeting, head of department in the city planning department of Ekurhuleni, Motubatse Motubatse, gave a report back on the progress of the project.
He said the project will impact on the social, environmental, urban and economic development in the city in a positive way.
The metro has, thus far, appointed a panel to develop a five-year master plan for the project, which focuses on putting more resources in place to attract investment and development for the project.
Land around the airport is one of the key factors of success with the aerotropolis.
Motubatse said the metro has audited all land in Ekurhuleni and has now identified municipal-owned land.
The private sector is invited to develop such land.
Motubatse advised businessman on the quicker way of getting land in Ekurhuleni.
“We give priority to manufacturing and industrialisation; we have a big appetite for that, and the quickest way to get land in Ekurhuleni is through a long-term lease,” he said.
He added that, already, companies are starting to move to the R21 corridor.
He also listed the Glen Gory development, where the Benoni Megamall is set to be built, and the Serengeti development, as some of the mega projects.
“The construction of the BRT route in Tembisa is one of the early phases of the project,” he said.
Businessmen advised the metro to consider how to counter things like cable theft, saying the master plan should include security plans on how they are going to counter such problems.
Sometimes business can lose income for two days due to cable theft.
COI CEO Chris van Biljon thanked Motubatse for his presentation and praised the “immaculate response and corporation” his forum receives from the mayoral office.
