The 2019/20 edition of Mpumalanga Business is the tenth issue of this highly successful publication that since its launch in 2008 has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the province.
In addition to the regular articles providing insight into each of the key economic sectors of the province, there is a special focus on the new life given to an established site at the Highveld Industrial Park and the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (NSEZ). A useful article on what incentives are available to investors is included, and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) gives investors some perspectives on what is available in the province.
Mpumalanga has several investment and business opportunities in a wide range of sectors.
Updated information on Mpumalanga is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well as our flagship South African Business title.
Chris Whales
Publisher, Global Africa Network Media
A REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF
A REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF MPUMALANGA Diversifying and growing the manufacturing sector are priorities. By John Young Mpumalanga is at the centre of power generation in South Africa, through its coal-fired power stations. Despite concerns about fossil fuels and their effect on the environment, coal is going to be around for the foreseeable future. The provincial government is looking beyond coal towards a renewable energy future, especially where projects can be tackled by small businesses. There might be opportunities in micro-hydro or rooftop solar projects that will help to reduce dependence on the national grid while simultaneously promoting SMMEs. As it happens, a number of coal mines are receiving new investments and Sasol has just launched the third of its replacement mines. A major concern for provincial planners is to diversify the economy and to grow the manufacturing sector. The Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Path (MEGDP) identifies beneficiation, agri-processing and the development of value chains as priorities. Steel and associated manufacturing remains one of the province’s strong suits, but a number of initiatives are being pursued to promote beneficiation and other forms of manufacture through a clustering approach and through tax incentives in Special Economic Zones. These initiatives are covered in a separate article elsewhere in this publication. A R250-million Youth Development Fund is to be launched in Mpumalanga, aimed at township MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2019/20 8
SPECIAL FEATURE and rural businesses run by young people. The Provincial Government of Mpumalanga is looking to cooperate closely with some of the large companies in the province who actively support SMMEs through enterprise and supplier development programmes. The Premier has identified possible partners such as the Exxaro Enterprise Development Fund, the Anglo Zimele Development Fund (Youth Development Hub and the Youth Development Initiative), the Sasol Enterprise Development Fund, South32, Glencore and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). Tourism is one of the brightest jewels in the crown of the Mpumalanga economy. International tourist arrivals rose from 1.5-million in 2017 to 1.6-million in 2018. The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has stepped up its marketing efforts with the result that domestic tourist arrivals also rose from 2.2-million in 2017 to 2.9-million in 2018. All of these tourists spent R13.1-billion, thus contributing significantly to the provincial economy. The Kruger National Park remains the province’s most visited asset but the decision by UNESCO to afford World Heritage Site status to the Makhonjwa Mountains near Barberton will boost geological tourism to the province and supports the efforts of the province to diversify its offering. Major projects to improve tourist experiences are underway at the Graskop Gorge (where a transparent lift takes tourists into the depths of the 9 MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2019/20
