Every ingredient an
Every ingredient an investor could want The Free State has the natural resources, the infrastructure and incentives to attract investors in every conceivable sector, from renewable energy to manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. The Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs stands ready to welcome investors to the province. The Free State Development Corporation has good warehouse and factory space available at competitive rates. Spaces to rent are located at Thaba Nchu, Industria-Harrismith, Phuthadithjaba and Botshabelo Industrial Park, which is situated approximately 60km from the economic hub on the eastern side of the Mangaung Metro. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for increased long-term investment necessary for sustainable job creation, innovation, productivity enhancement, wealth creation and improvements in the living standards of our people. The Free State Province not only champions this call but proclaims that the country’s most centrally-located province has all the ingredients that an investor could need. The Free State Province lies in the heart of South Africa, with the Kingdom of Lesotho nestling in the hollow of its bean-like shape. Lying between the Vaal River in the north and the Orange River in the south, the region is one of flat, rolling grassland and fields of crops, rising to lovely mountains in the north-east. The Free State shares borders with six other provinces and provides easy access to the main ports of Durban, East London and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). The country’s major national highway, N1, runs through the centre of the province on a north-south axis. Mangaung, comprising Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu, is South Africa’s newest metropolitan authority. The Bram Fischer International Airport in the provincial capital is the site of a multi-phase industrial and commercial development. The N8 Corridor covers Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu and contains projects including the ICC Precinct (hotel and convention centre in Bloemfontein), Bio-Medical Park, Airport Node (logistics and supply chain, warehouses, residential apartments, hospitals, schools, hotels and new shopping malls), and tourism infrastructure for the Naval Hill development. The province has an established institutional, educational and administrational infrastructure and is home to the Supreme Court of Appeal, the University of the Free State and the Central University of Technology. Multiple sector opportunities The Free State is home to immense investment opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, agroprocessing, manufacturing, ICT, infrastructure development, green energy, construction, tourism and trade. Some of the biggest current sectors in the province are agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tertiary sectors, making it an ideal location for transport logistics and agro-processing operations. The province is the granary of South Africa, with agriculture central to its economy, while the mining industry is still a large employer. FREE STATE BUSINESS 2023 4
BUSINESS MESSAGE Domestic MESSAGE Investing and in the international Free investors State Investing Province are the invited to THE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT IN THE FREE STATE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT REE STATE PROVINCE MESSAGE MESSAGE towns that are the centre of economic activity IN THE FREE STATE include Kroonstad, an important agricultural, administrative and educational centre; Parys, invest The Free Free State in South State Province Africa’s on the banks most of the Vaal River; QwaQwa, a vast settlement known for its handcrafted items; centrally welcomes Dr Mbulelo Nokwequ, Head located investors Ficksburg, famous for its cherry festival; and of Department province at Bethlehem, gateway to the Eastern Highlands. DESTEA, outlines some of the Free State’s Dr Mbulelo Nokwequ, Head of Department at Companies DESTEA, outlines locating some to the of Free the State not unique selling propositions. only enjoy the opportunity to source inputs MEC MEC Free for for State’s Economic, Economic, unique Small Small selling Business Business propositions. Development, Development, Tourism Tourism and and Environmental Environmental Affairs, Affairs, at competitive prices, but also benefit from the the Honourable MP MP Mohale, Mohale, outlines relates how how human the domestic, province capital formation regional has supported and is international the business heart of markets the in the for creation Covid-19 of crisis a conducive and how environment investment for can investment spark their further in products Free development. and State services. Province. 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SEZ the is Free strategy situated State’s is in response human Tshiame. capital to President formation and Ramaphosa’s allowances and de- MEC are • recreational services available for Economic, to for investors. and priority Small lifestyle The sectors key velopment clarion The Opportunities Companies call Free through for State’s increased relocating strengths are universities opening long-term for and to up inward investment Free colleges, the investment State province’s and necessary not various are only sectors boosted for institutions enjoy inclusive that by: the are Business being facilities. such targeted Development, as agro-processing are automotive, Tourism and pursuing • growth gas opportunity openness and and innovation energy job to to creation. business, sector, source and offering with trade inputs exploration and proof-of-concept at foreign competitive licences investment services, prices, agro-processing, but to name also a to and logistics, manufacturing Environmental general Affairs processing, the the few. • being benefit abundance While Indeed, granted, from investment the of domestic, Free and natural State a R200-million is resources regional is an poised essential and to plant become international ingredient started a laboratory markets ICT economic for and for excellence • growth, producing pharmaceuticals. their Honourable Select • a large investment labour Mohale. pool ■ MP opportunities products low factory education it should and liquified rentals services. outcomes, be natural pointed gas research out (LNG) that and and at innovation, helium the centre particularly of the Free in include: • diverse cultures the • State in Africa’s fields 2022. 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Solar The projects Free State and include manufacturing is poised to become • • Medical Agriculture Affairs, and and the pharmaceutical Honourable agriprocessing Thabo • a the laboratory a large The 60MW Free labour Boshoff for State’s excellence pool strengths Solar PhotoVoltaic in for education inward (PV) investment outcomes, park are research boosted and by: • production tourism Meeko. and and distribution property • innovation, (Sun • diverse openness Edison) cultures particularly to and business, the 64MW trade in the and fields Letsatsi foreign of Solar health, investment PV agriculture, agroprocessing, (Solar competitive Reserve, manufacturing, land Kensani and Group building water and management, cost Intikon Energy). ICT, pharmaceuticals • Renewable investors and from clean around energy • Manufacturing development Domestic and potential • abundance of natural resources • medical and pharmaceutical • • low factory rentals production and distribution • and world-class Sasolburg, rural development. transport on the province’s and telecommunications northern border, infrastructure • Medical the tourism. world are welcome to is • Africa’s one Domestic of leading the and country’s telecommunications potential most investors important network from industrial around the world are • manufacturing contact the DESTEA Head of welcome complexes. • incentive to contact packages It is home the uniquely DESTEA to the developed global Head of giant Department for Sasol Special Economic at: Zones • renewable Department and at: clean energy JOIN US HoD_office@destea.gov.za. FREE and and ONLINE STATE several industrial BUSINESS other parks chemical 2020 facilities. Other 6 and medical HoD_office@destea.gov.za. tourism. ■ JOIN US ONLINE 7 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2020 US JOIN ONLINE US ONLINE IN US ONLINE JOIN US ONLINE WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM | WWW.FREESTATEBUSINES | WWW.LIMPOPOBUS WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM | WWW.FREESTATEBUSI | WWW.LIMPOPOBUSI WWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM | WWW.FREESTATEBUS | WWW.LIMPOPOBUS FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021 6 7 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021 5 FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022 Free State Province
