Free State Business 2025

Free State Business - A unique guide to business and investment in the Free State. The 2025 edition of Free State Business is the 14th issue of this successful publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Free State. Several of the agencies of the Free State’s provincial government have taken space within this publication to outline their plans and achievements to date in attracting new investments into South Africa’s most centrally located province, including the hosting of an investment conference. A UK company has announced the R500-million purchase of a uranium-producing shaft. This issue contains a special feature on skills development within the province. News about these and other developments are contained in the sector overviews that outline the characteristics of the main economic sectors of the province, and report on the latest news in those sectors as well. One of the newest sectors is natural gas and helium, both of which are being pursued by Renergen through its Virginia Gas Project. Significant investments are being attracted to the Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone (MAPSEZ) in the northern part of the province and there are plans to establish another SEZ related to the gas find around Welkom. Special features on investment incentives and starting a business in the South African context are included in this edition. To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.freestatebusiness.co.za. Updated information on the Free State is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at https://www.globalafricanetwork.com and https://www.southafricanbusiness.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the newest addition to our list of publications, The Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020.

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XXXXX CONTENTSCONTENTSFree State Business 2025 EditionIntroductionThe Free State welcomes investors 4The Department for Economic, Small Business Development,Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) notes that theprovince is well positioned to cater for investors of every sort.Free State Development Corporation 8Driving enterprise development and investment.Special featuresRegional overview 10Gold prices have buoyed the province’s producers evenas mines reach the end of their lifespans and a UK investorhas bought a uranium asset for R500-million. The SecondFree State Investment Conference in 2024 attracted interestin a wide range of sectors as the province positions itselfto take advantage of its location and its natural resources.Promoting skills at all levels 12For pre-schoolers, students and graduates, training andskills are being provided by a diverse and enthusiasticgroup of volunteers, companies and agencies.Free State Tourism 18The Free State has a wide range of investmentopportunities available in every subsector of tourism.Maluti-A-Phofung SEZ 22A diamond waiting to be unearthed in the Free State.Establishing a business in South Africa 24South African has eased the barriers to doing business.South African investment incentives 26The Department of Trade, Industry and Competitionhas a range of incentives, supported by the Free StateDevelopment Corporation (FDC).2

CONTENTSEconomic sectorsAgriculture 30The newly expanded VKB Group covers all provinces.Mining 32A uranium mine has changed hands for R500-million.Energy 34Multiple energy types are receiving investments.Manufacturing 36Industrial parks are receiving state support.ICT 37Rural children are getting digital access.Tourism 38UNESCO has listed the foundation site of the ANC.Development finance and SMME support 39Colleges are backing startups.ABOUT THE COVER:FREE STATEBUSINESSTHE GUIDE TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENTIN THE FREE STATE PROVINCEFOCUS2025 EDITIONReferencesJOIN US ONLINEWWW.GLOBALAFRICANETWORK.COM | WWW.FREESTATEBUSINESS.CO.ZAKey sector contents 28Overviews of the main economic sectors of the Free State.Free State Provincial Government 40A guide to the provincial government departments.Photo credits: Healthy maize, FDC; SasolOne Plant, Sasol; Windmill Casino, SunInternational; Tshepong North solarfacility, Harmony; pithead, Harmony;factories and warehouses for hire, FDC.