FREE STATE PROVINCE
FREE STATE PROVINCE INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS 2024 CONTENTS 1 FOREWORD Mr Mxolisi Dukwana, Premier of the Free State, welcomes investors 2 MESSAGE The MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Thabo Meeko, outlines many opportunities in a province full of potential 4 FREE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (FDC) Driving enterprise development and investment in the Free State 6 INTRODUCTION TO THE FREE STATE The Free State Province is South Africa’s most centrally located province, with easy access along major national highways to all of the country’s other major centres 7 THE FREE STATE AT A GLANCE The Free State Province in statistics 8 TOURISM The Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Authority (FSGLTA) is growing a sustainable and high-quality tourism sector 10 MALUTI-A-PHOFUNG SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE A diamond waiting to be unearthed, MAPSEZ is a multi-sector Special Economic Zone dedicated to light and heavy manufacturing, logistics and warehousing operations 12 CATALYTIC INVESTMENT PROJECTS The Free State Province is a forward-looking entity, eager to attract investments to boost development. A number of investment-ready projects are showcased in the following pages: Hamilton Industrial Park, Bloemindustria Industrial Park 13 REDEVELOPMENT OF PHAKISA RACEWAY 14 VIRGINIA GAS PROJECT 15 UMKHOMBE SOLAR FACILITY 16 BETHLEHEM APPLE-JUICE PLANT 17 MOSAMANE TOURISM AND INTELLIGENT SHEEP FARMING 18 SECTOR OVERVIEW: FREE STATE AGRICULTURE 20 AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT NODE 22 VISTA PARK TWO AND THREE 23 WAAIHOEK PRECINCT REDEVELOPMENT NAVAL HILL REDEVELOPMENT IMAGE CREDITS: Cover: Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Pavel Špindler on Panoramio; mill, Sasko; cheetah, SA Tourism/Flickr; three factory images, FDC; dramatic Free State highway, Thomas Bennie on Unsplash. Other: ACSA; Airlink; aleksandarlittlewolf/Freepik; Calgro M3; Joe Neric and Michael Weir, Unsplash; Premier Hotels; Renergen; Turkish Airlines; Will Pittenger, Wikimedia Commons; all other images, DARD, FSGLTA, FDC. Layout & Design: Salmah Brown Produced by Global Africa Network
1 FOREWORD THE FREE STATE LIES AT THE HEART OF SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE OPPORTUNITY BEATS Bordered by five provinces and Lesotho, we are not just geographically central, but strategically positioned as a nexus of untapped potential and boundless possibilities. OUR VEINS ARE THE NATION’S ARTERIES This unique advantage holds the potential to transform the Free State into a thriving hub for commerce, trade and collaboration. We undoubtedly serve as a vital intersection that connects the economic arteries of our young nation. OUR FERTILE PLAINS ARE A PRIZED RESOURCE… How can we leverage this advantage to become an agricultural powerhouse, ensuring food security and creating thriving rural communities? Can we harness the majesty of the Drakensberg and the serenity of the plains to create unforgettable tourist destinations, drawing visitors from across South Africa and the globe? The Free State has vast expanses and abundant resources, presenting intriguing investment possibilities. Farming offers fertile ground for growth and our province holds immense promise for a better tomorrow. Beyond agriculture, the Free State’s natural assets are our competitive advantage. The plentiful radiation in Xhariep is an invitation for large-scale solar projects, while the Gariep River promises to be a source of clean, hydrokinetic energy. These renewable energy options and our rich mineral deposits, including diamonds, gold and manganese, make us attractive for investment. OUR SUCCESS IN EDUCATION IS ONLY THE BEGINNING How can we leverage our top matric performance to become a magnet for universities and research institutions, cultivating a knowledge economy that fuels innovation and prosperity? Can we empower our youth to utilise our mineral wealth and renewable energy potential, creating a sustainable future for future generations? The answer lies with the dreamers, the doers and the pioneers who will collectively and severally honour the invitation to our investment summit. In this investment summit, the seeds of our future shall be sown. Let us work together, with boundless optimism and unwavering faith, to transform the Free State into a beacon of progress, a symbol of South Africa’s vibrant spirit. God bless you! Mr Mxolisi Dukwana, Premier of the Free State
