The 2023/24 edition of Mpumalanga 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 province.
Introduced by a warm message of welcome to potential investors from the CEO of the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), this edition of the journal also contains the official Mpumalanga Investment Prospectus, a comprehensive survey of the province’s assets and the potential of the region. Major catalytic projects such as the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) and the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market (MIFPM) are examined in detail, outlining how producers, processors and logistics firms stand to benefit and where there is potential for investment.
In addition to the Prospectus, the journal contains a special feature on how the province is leading the field in going green in various projects across several sectors. Sector overviews give up-to-date news on what is going on in the key sectors of the provincial economy, as well as giving a more general view of conditions pertaining to that sector.
OVERVIEW ICT A
OVERVIEW ICT A Mpumalanga coal mine is using 5G. SECTOR INSIGHT ICT is a critical research theme at the University of Mpumalanga. ONLINE RESOURCES Seda Technology Programme: www.seda.org.za State Information Technology Agency: www.sita.co.za Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa: www.usaasa.org.za Canyon Coal’s Phalanndwa Colliery, pictured, is South Africa’s first smart mine. Located near Delmas, the mine produced 1.7-million tons of run-of-mine coal in 2022. Together with Minetec Smart Mining, Huawei and MTN are partnering to keep the mine and plant connected and monitored using high-speed broadband, through the site’s 5G connectivity. The same partners are working together in Limpopo on a platinum mine and it is expected that many more mines will follow these pilot projects in trying to make the country’s mining sector safer and more automated. ICT has been chosen as one of the University of Mpumalanga’s six critical research themes. Operating under the title of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D), it intends to present easy adoption and use of ICT resources for the betterment of people’s day-to-day activities. Sub-themes are ICT in education, cybersecurity, Internet of Things and data analytics. The university offers a Diploma in ICT in Applications Development, a three-year course carrying 360 credits and a levelsix qualification. Three years after starting to offer free WiFi in its operating areas, Glencore Coal and partner Project Isizwe celebrated estimated savings in data costs of more than R100- million. Having started with 10 hotspots in Ogies and Phola in the eMalahleni Municipality, the initiative was expanded to the Steve Tshwete and Emakhazeni municipalities where 30 hotspots now function. Communities are consuming more than 28 000GB of data for free every month. Project Isizwe is a non-profit organisation that partners with Internet Service Providers to provide equitable Internet access. The MTN SA Foundation supports several schools in Mpumalanga as part of MTN’s Back to School campaigns. Eleven schools have multi-media centres, each with 20 computer desks, chairs and teacher stations. The computer laboratories have one server, a multifunctional printer, an interactive whiteboard, a data projector, a router and data connectivity to MTN for 24 months. The province’s new boarding school, Izimbali Combined MST, also has a 40-seater laboratory courtesy of the MTN SA Foundation. ■ MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2023/24 58
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