NKOWANKOWA: Major boost for industrial park

The project is part of the DTI’s revitalisation of the Industrial Parks Programme. According to the minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, Nkowankowa is one of the five industrial parks for which the DTI has set aside R216 million for their renovation this year.

Last year the department completed the first phase of the Seshego Industrial Park in Polokwane at a cost of R21m. “The DTI identified a need to revitalise industrial parks located in various parts of the country, mainly the former homelands, as part of our efforts to promote industrialisation, manufacturing and job creation. The objective of our Revitalisation of Industrial Parks Programme is to upgrade the infrastructure of these parks in order to enable them to contribute in stimulating the country’s industrial development, economic growth and job creation,” says minister Davies.

He adds that the DTI would like to see the parks operating as centres of excellence and bee hives of economic activity, contributing to the growth of the country’s economy and creating job opportunities for the local communities.

“The revitalisation process will ensure that the upgraded parks appeal to private investors, provide a conducive environment and attract investments that will create jobs and assist in promoting economic transformation,” says Davies.

The revitalisation programme is implemented in four phases focusing on various areas with the first being the upgrading of the security infrastructure. Last year, the dti spent more than R180 million on the first phase of upgrading of six industrial parks spread across five provinces on the first phase of our revitalisation of the Industrial Parks Programme.