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Mpumalanga Business 2025-26

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A unique guide to business and investment in Mpumalanga, the 2025/26 edition of Mpumalanga Business is the 16th issue of this successful publication that since its launch in 2008 has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the province. Global Africa Network is pleased to carry a message from the CEO of the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) in which the investment climate in this resource-rich province is outlined. Ongoing work on infrastructure such as roads, water works, schools and hospitals, supported by the establishment of one of South Africa’s newest and most dynamic universities, makes this an attractive destination for investors in a wide variety of sectors. In this journal MEGA also presents the Mpumalanga Trade & Investment Profile, a 12-page booklet which surveys the provincial economy and gives specific details about what investment opportunities are available. The creation of the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency is a sign of the times, and a further invitation to investors to consider this forward-looking province. The rapid development of the province’s first wind farm, Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni, is covered in full in this edition, as are other developments in the energy field. The latest updates in all the most important sectors of the provincial economy are covered, including news that Sasol has a plan to avoid a looming “gas cliff”. To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com. Updated information on Mpumalanga is also available through our monthly e-newsletters, 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 new addition our list of publications, The Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020.

WHY INVEST IN

WHY INVEST IN MPUMALANGA?Mpumalanga’s diverse and resource-rich economy makes it one of themost attractive trade and investment destinations in South East Africa.A large, growing domestic market and excellent access, supported by worldclassinfrastructure, to the East African and Indian Ocean markets throughMaputo Port makes Mpumalanga an ideal investment location for export-drivenmanufacturing and production.Mpumalanga is one of South Africa’s most productive and importantagricultural regions and through strategic investments in the MpumalangaInternational Food Market (MIFM) and the Nkomazi Special EconomicZone (NSEZ) the province is set to become a major force in food productionand distribution.Mpumalanga’s sophisticated and well-segmented tourism and hospitalitysector is ripe for investment and expansion.Mpumalanga’s STRATEGIC LOCATION makes ita valuable transport and logistics hubMpumalangaUNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION•Abundant resources: minerals and agricultural produce• Established manufacturing infrastructure: smelters,petrochemicals, food processing, paper, sugar• Strategic location, access to regional andglobal markets• Tourism hotspots: the iconic Kruger National Park,world-class reserves, adventure tourism and newUNESCO World Heritage Site• Mpumalanga International Food Market (MIFM)• Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (NSEZ)• The University of Mpumalanga• Support for Green Economy research and investmentA province in easternSouth Africa, borderingthe nations of eSwatiniand Mozambique• Maputo Development Corridor enhances logistics• Preferential access to lucrative EU market• Proximity to South Africa’s economic heartland• Access to regional SADC market: 360-million population• Access to deepwater Port of MaputoCapital cityMbombela(Nelspruit)Population5.1-million peopleMain major townsErmeloeMalahleniMiddelburgSecundaMalalaneAirport Kruger Mpumalanga International AirportMPUMALANGA’S ECONOMYThe provincial economy of Mpumalanga is exceptionally diverse.Established industries in the province include Mining, Stainless Steel,Petrochemicals, Pulp and Paper, Ferro-Alloys, Energy Generation,Tourism, Agriculture and Agro-Processing.Regional GVA by District39% 34%NkangalaEhlanzeni27%GertSibandaCompanies in these sectors include global giants in theirindustries such as Sasol (energy and chemicals), Sappi(paper, packaging, pulp and forests), Samancor Chrome(ferrochrome), Exxaro, ARM and Glencore (mining).AGRICULTURE 4%COMMUNITY SERVICE 22%FINANCE 16%MINING 19%TRANSPORT 5%MANUFACTURING13%ELECTRICITY 6%CONSTRUCTION2%TRADE 13%The province’s commercial farmers are among the most efficient in the world,exporting huge quantities of everything from citrus to macadamia nuts. ColumbusStainless is the only stainless-steel manufacturer on the continent.GOVERNANCEThe province has three district municipalities and 17 local municipalities. Severalagencies which promote the regional economy report to the Mpumalanga ProvincialGovernment. Large parts of the province comprises extensive rural villages thatform part of areas run by traditional authorities.TRANSPORTKruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Mbombela plus many airfields suchas Middelburg. Extensive freight rail network, busiest in South Africa. The N4 highway(Maputo Corridor) is an east-west spine of a highly developed road system.18

ABOUT MEGAThe Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) is the officialEconomic Development Agency for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and an entity ofthe Department of Economic Development and Tourism.MEGA’s primary mandate is to foster the sustainable growth and development of Mpumalanga’s economy through its operational activitiesof Trade and Investment Promotion, Development Funding, Equity Investments, and Property and Infrastructure Development. The Agencyremains accountable to the Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT). MEGA is the foreign investor’s ortrader’s first point of contact for doing successful business in Mpumalanga Province. Through the Trade and Investment Promotion Division,the Agency provides a variety of services to potential investors and trading partners.MEGA SERVICESMEGA staff will go out of their way to make the process of investing in Mpumalangaor starting a business in the province easy. MEGA is focussed on customer needsand provides innovative solutions with a high level of service. Services include:• Trade and Investment Promotion• Properties and Infrastructure• FundingPLANNING THE WAY FORWARDNational government has articulated a Nine-Point Plan which seeks to prioritise projectsthat will tackle key economic issues. MEGA is aligned with the plan, which include issuesrelevant to growing the provincial economy:• revitalise agriculture and the agro-processing chain• advancing mineral beneficiation• implementing the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) effectively• unlocking the potential of SMMEs, cooperatives and township and rural enterprises• resolving the energy challenge• stabilising the labour market• upscaling private investment• investment in science and technology, water and sanitation, transportand broadband connectivityMAPUTO DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORThe Maputo Development Corridor is South Africa’s leadingSpatial Development Initiative (SDI), linking Mpumalanga Province,Gauteng Province and the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone withthe deepwater Port of Maputo in Mozambique. This efficientcorridor provides investors and exporters with good access to theexport markets of South East Africa, the Indian Ocean Rim andFar East Asia. The Maputo Development Corridor comprises road,SOUTH AFRICAMashishingrail, Special Economic Zone, border posts, port and terminalfacilities. The corridor runs through the most highly industrialisedand productive regions of Southern Africa. The Corridor has beenextensively upgraded to international standards and links theindustrial heartland of South Africa to its nearest port in Maputo,Mozambique, which is one of the fastest-growing countries inSouth East Africa.SabieMOZAMBIQUEMiddelburgBelfastMbombelaKomatipoortJOHANNESBURGCarolinaESWATINIMAPUTO19

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