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Free State Business 2022

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should prospectus, be

should prospectus, be pointed the Free out State that at Investment the centre Opportunities of the Free State Prospectus. government’s These economic initiatives represent development the Free strategy State’s is response human capital to President formation Ramaphosa’s and de- MEC for Economic, Small velopment clarion call through for increased universities long-term and investment colleges, and necessary various for institutions inclusive Business Development, Tourism pursuing growth FOCUSand innovation job creation. and offering proof-of-concept services, to name a and Environmental Affairs the the few. While Indeed, investment the Free State is is an poised essential to become ingredient a laboratory economic for excel- Honourable MP Mohale. lence growth, education it should outcomes, be pointed research out that and at innovation, the centre particularly of the Free in the State Empowering fields government’s of health, agriculture, economic agro-processing, development young strategy, manufacturing, as well as water the management, Value Chains Economic ICT, pharmaceuticals Transformation and rural Approach, development. is human capital formation Domestic and and development potential investors through from universities around the and world colleges, are welcome and people various to contact institutions the DESTEA to pursuing work Head innovation of Department and offering at: proof-ofconcept services, to name a few. The Free State is poised to become HoD_office@destea.gov.za. a laboratory for excellence in education outcomes, research and The YES4Youth Programme is creating thousands of work experiences. innovation, particularly in the fields of health, agriculture, agroprocessing, manufacturing, water management, ICT, pharmaceuticals and rural development. The Domestic and YES4Youth potential investors Programme from is around an the world to be part are of skills development among young welcome to Empowerment contact the DESTEA Initiative. Head of Launched Department at: individuals, while in turn ensuring that they HoD_office@destea.gov.za. FREE STATE in BUSINESS 2018, the 2020 programme has awarded 6 gain BBBEE levels and points. numerous young individuals an • Focuses on the employability of the youth for opportunity to gain on-the-job training while economic prosperity. building their professional profile and at the same FREE time STATE eliminating BUSINESS unemployment 2021 in the country. 6 Roles and responsibilities YES is fully focused on collaborating with DESTEA business to create quality work experiences for youth. Recruitment of youth into the work experiences that YES and its corporate clients create is handled by YES-affiliated implementation partners and employers. The goal is to create • • • • Liaison between SMEs and Standard Bank. Monitor performance and progress of employees. Support SMEs. Report back on SME and employee progress. thousands of work experiences for youth and to Standard Bank equip youth with a toolkit to make a life and be someone they have the potential to be. The partnership between DESTEA and Standard Bank continues to run with the aforementioned vision by supporting both SMEs and their respective • • • • Project management of initiative. Registrations of Youth with YES. Management administration. Pay stipends. employees as agreed upon, while ensuring the SMEs growth and progress of all participants. A total of 58 employees from the Free State have been placed in various companies where they continue to carry out their daily tasks and responsibilities resulting in the acquisition of quality work experience. The youth are provided with a minimum salary of R3 500 per month paid by Standard Bank. • • • • • Provide meaningful quality workplace experience. Provide learning opportunities. Manage day-to-day tasks and activities. Provide feedback to employees. Monthly submissions and documentation management. The unemployment rate in South Africa has risen to alarming levels. This shows the relevance and need for initiatives such as the YES For Youth Programme and the strong partnership with DESTEA and Standard Bank aimed at confronting the unfavourable aspects of youth unemployment. Not only does the programme place young people in spheres of work but it also ensures that the young employees receive real-time quality experiences coupled with a boosted professional profile, thus ensuring the youth’s employability upon completion of the 12-month placement. ■ The purpose of DESTEA and Standard Bank • Work hand-in-hand in the continued fight against the unemployment rate among young individuals in the Free State. • Encourage corporates to contribute to empowerment in areas of national priority, addressing youth unemployment and up-skilling young people through job placement. • Relieve host employers of stipend payments (Standard Bank). • Extend the opportunity to SMEs, allowing them FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022 6

Investing in the Free State Investing Province the Free State Province Dr Mbulelo Nokwequ, Head of Department at DESTEA, outlines some of the Free State’s Dr Mbulelo Nokwequ, Head of Department at DESTEA, outlines some of the unique selling propositions. Free State’s unique selling propositions. MESSAGE MESSAGE Free State Province is situated in the heart of South Africa and The shares borders Free State with Province Lesotho is and situated six other in the provinces. heart of South It provides Africa and shares borders with Lesotho and six other provinces. easy access to the main ports of Durban, East London and It provides easy access to the main ports of Durban, East Port Elizabeth. London and Port Elizabeth. The Free State is an attractive business and investment destination. The Free State is an attractive business and investment The province is at the centre of South Africa and the dominant sectors destination. The province is at the centre of South Africa and the are agriculture, mining, manufacturing and the tertiary sectors, making dominant economic sectors are agriculture, mining, manufacturing it ideal and the for transport tertiary sectors, logistics making and agro-processing. it ideal for transport logistics and agro-processing. Companies locating to Free State not only enjoy the opportunity to source The inputs Department at competitive has prices, developed but also a to Value benefit Chains from domestic, Economic regional Transformation and international Approach, markets which aims for their to place products the economy and services. on a Because path of South reconstruction, Africa has recovery been engaging and development with our economically post the Covid-19 large trading pandemic. partners, Maintaining access to sound international relationships markets with is facilitated the private through sector various ensures trade that preferences government’s and free-trade economic agreements. transformation agenda remains As far as on long-term track. The investment department is is concerned, engaging with there sectors are industrial such as parks property and a developers Special Economic issues Zone such (SEZ) as bulk that services are supported and the approval by the Department of plans. A of development Trade, Industry committee and Competition. made up Industrial of government, parks are developers, situated in financing Maluti-A-Phofung, institution Botshabelo and municipalities and Thaba will Nchu. soon Maluti-A-Phofung be established. SEZ is situated in Tshiame. The Companies Free State’s relocating strengths for to inward Free investment State not are only boosted enjoy by: the • opportunity openness to to business, source trade inputs and at foreign competitive investment prices, but also to • benefit abundance from of domestic, natural resources regional and international markets for their • products low factory and rentals services. • Africa’s There leading are industrial telecommunications parks and a Special network Economic Zone (SEZ) • that incentive are supported packages uniquely by the developed Department for Special of Trade, Economic Industry Zones and • Competition. incentives associated Industrial with parks the revitalised are situated industrial Maluti-A-Phofung, parks • Botshabelo Free State and Development Thaba Nchu. Corporation The Maluti-A-Phofung (FDC) support SEZ services is situated for in Tshiame, priority sectors Harrismith. such as agro-processing and manufacturing • a large The Free labour State’s pool strengths for inward investment are boosted by: • • diverse openness cultures to business, trade and foreign investment • abundance of natural resources • competitive land and building cost • low factory rentals • world-class transport and telecommunications infrastructure • Africa’s leading telecommunications network • incentive packages uniquely developed for Special Economic Zones and industrial parks 7 • Free State Development • an Corporation idyllic climate (FDC) support • recreational services for and priority lifestyle sectors facilities. such as agro-processing and manufacturing Select • a large investment labour pool opportunities include: • diverse cultures • • Agriculture competitive and land agroprocessing costs. and building • Tourism Select and property investment opportunities developmentinclude: • • Medical Agriculture and and pharmaceutical agriprocessing • production tourism and and distribution property • Manufacturing development • medical and pharmaceutical • Renewable and clean energy production and distribution • Medical tourism. • manufacturing • renewable and clean energy and medical tourism. ■ FREE STATE BUSINESS 2020 7 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021 7 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022

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