Gauteng Business 2016 edition

PROFILE

PROFILE Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) Gauteng may be the smallest South African province in terms of land size, but it remains the economic engine of the country and an important economy in Africa. In an effort to enhance the role of the Gauteng Provincial Government in driving investment, growth and innovation in the provincial economy, all of the Gauteng provincial agencies were restructured in 2012. This led to the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) coming into existence through a merger between the Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA) and Blue IQ Holdings (Pty) Ltd. Key considerations for the GDED were that the merger should achieve a greater synergy and avoid duplication of services which had previously overlapped, in order to improve efficiency. The story of the GGDA is one of careful planning, targeted implementation and a tight focus on building local and regional economies for sustainable livelihoods, enhanced economic competitiveness and the creation of an enabling environment for growth. The company’s mandate is to serve as the implementation arm of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and to assist the department to lead, facilitate and manage sustainable job creation and inclusive economic growth and development in the Gauteng City Region. The Mandate’s Core Focus Areas: Business Enablement The GGDA works with national government and related public entities, such as the South African Revenue Service (SARS), to create an environment that is more conducive for doing business for multinationals, large local companies and SMMEs. This may include engaging with national government to propose regulatory changes, as well as establishing a ‘one-stop-shop’ for doing business in Gauteng. The GGDA will target specific sectors to enable business to operate more effectively, actively addressing constraints specific to those sectors. Capital Projects The GGDA works with other spheres of government and the private sector to develop transformative infrastructure aimed at changing the way in which the province operates. It does not duplicate the work directly within the ambit of other departments, such as Public Works, Transport, Health and Education, but identifies projects that are catalytic, crosscutting, multi-sectoral and complex to manage. The particular expertise of the GGDA lies in designing large-scale projects, leveraging the necessary stakeholder and financial support and building the client base required to utilise the infrastructure. Trade and Investment Promotion In order to stimulate and maintain inward and outward trade and investment, the GGDA actively promotes Gauteng’s target sectors both locally as well as internationally. It works with industry bodies to determine appropriate strategies for identified import and export markets. In order to support emerging entrepreneurs within the selected sectors, the GGDA actively seeks market entry points for qualifying companies. GAUTENG BUSINESS 2016 10

PROFILE The list of sectors include: • Information and Communications Technology (ICT) • Pharmaceutical • Real Estate • Manufacturing (automotive etc.) • Tourism • Construction • Mineral benefication • Agro-processing The GGDA’s main function is to grow the economy by positioning Gauteng as a globally competitive city. Key to this is support growth of the cooperative economy, facilitation of trade and investment and increased strategic economic infrastructure. Vision The GGDA’s vision is to be the premier catalyst of innovative and sustainable growth and socioeconomic development within the southern African region. Its mission is to create an enabling environment for growth-targeted investment facilitation, strategic infrastructure development and social transformation, thus positioning Gauteng as a leading Global City Region. GGDA’s Functions In keeping with its mission statement, the GGDA was formed to provide the following key services to its diverse client base: • Facilitating the development and enhancement of strategic economic infrastructure within the Gauteng province. A number of major industrial development and infrastructure investment initiatives are currently underway in Gauteng, with several projects managed by the GGDA. Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) – 2nd Automotive Incubation Centre at Nissan SA The project seeks to achieve the design and construction of a facility to be located between the vehicle assembly areas to accommodate between 10 to 12 incubatees at a time. The size of the facility would be in the region of 10 000 square metres. Automotive Supplier Park (ASP) The project involves the development of mini factories to accommodate tenants that may not require huge manufacturing space for their operation. The overall objective of the Park is to deliver mini factory spaces that will accommodate small to medium suppliers to the auto sector. • 8 000m 2 for SME Factories design and construction • 300m 2 Office Space to accommodate Central Administration Bio Park Facility The focus of the project is to construct the Biotech Park building on Land Parcel 12 starting with bulk underground services to top structure in line with the requirements of its tenants. 11 GAUTENG BUSINESS 2016