Port Shepstone techno hub to bring potential investment

The South Coast has been chosen as one of four provincial sites for the establishment of a technological hub – a development investment for the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).
This was recently revealed by the CEO of South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE), Phelisa Mangcu who said the Port Shepstone Techno Hub will not only help achieve government’s drive to shift South Africa to a nation of early adopters in terms of technology; it also promises unlimited opportunities for keen investors.
Mangcu said the Port Shepstone Techno Hub, run by the provincial government in partnership with Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, is the first of four such hubs which are set to stimulate the region’s economy by providing a collaborative space for investors and entrepreneurs.
According to sources, the hub is currently being built in Oslo Beach.
“The 20-hectare gated location for the techno hub consists of five land-use zones, including light industrial/commercial, techno hub/hotel/conference centre, mixed-use commercial, and mixed-use residential. The project is currently in Phase 1 which includes the completion of the fencing and an administrative building including three training rooms and a boardroom. The site has already received much investor interest with land plots being the attention of investors such as the Radisson Hotel Group – the American multi-national hospitality company – already committing to the hub,” said Mangcu.
She added that this will also form part of the Eastern Seaboard Development Initiative which aims to unlock the economic potential of the region within the Eastern Cape and KZN – with the KZN South Coast falling within this framework.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently visited the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre for an engagement meeting over the Eastern Seaborn Development project, also known as the “African Coastal Smart City” by the locals.
Ramaphosa said the project is a long-term development plan by government to connect coastal KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape local economies.
Mangcu said: “We are proud that the South Coast has been chosen as one of the key locations for the development of a techno hub, a development investment that will undoubtedly benefit the youth. The location of Port Shepstone is particularly well chosen. As the business and administration hub of the KZN South Coast, there is now even more reason for individuals and organisations to consider setting up shop here. There are great things in store for this region.”
She added that this is not solely about job creation, but about creating a productive space for entrepreneurial thinkers to get together and collaborate on ground-breaking ideas and projects.
She said the Port Shepstone Techno Hub really has the potential to drive socio-economic development, increase competitiveness, and grow the area in line with the fourth industrial revolution.
“SCTIE has partnered with Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) to establish a One Stop Shop office on the KZN South Coast. This aims to improve the efficiency of doing business, ensuring investors have access to municipal incentives in the district, such as those being offered through the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality (RNM),” said Mangcu.

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