The economy of the North West Province, characterized by growth and built on the full potential of its comparative and competitive advantages, offers opportunities for both local and international investors.
Invest North West
A specialist provincial economic development agency, Invest North West (INW), offers incoming investors the convenience of a comprehensive service in setting up business. Aside from promoting investment, INW's services include destination marketing, investment facilitation, trade development and aftercare to existing North West businesses.
INW services are closely aligned to the growth and development strategies of the national and provincial government, whose common objectives include a major focus on achieving a real growth rate of 6.6% by 2014.
Spatial Development Initiatives
The Spatial Development Initiative (SDI) program has been identified as a delivery vehicle for
job creation, spatial integration, human resource development and the facilitation of investment into development corridors. Three high priority areas within the province have been identified and declared SDIs to fast track development within these specific areas. The province is currently rolling out a number of key anchor projects within these three development corridors.
Platinum SDI
The Platinum SDI will complete a 3 000 km coast to coast development corridor stretching from Mozambique on the east coast to Walvis Bay in Namibia (via the Trans Kalahari Highway) on the west coast. Investment opportunities in this SDI include the development of a mining supply park, a platinum theme park, granite beneficiation, an automotive component manufacturing cluster, manufacturing of catalytic converters and platinum and diamond manufacturing clusters.
Treasure
Route SDI
The Treasure Route SDI extends from Gauteng across the southern part of the North West Province into the Northern Cape. The anchor project developments planned for this corridor include a science park innovation hub, aquaculture production, the establishment of pharmaceutical and medical clusters and agricultural and agro-processing equipment manufacture.
Western Frontier SDI
The Western frontier SDI forms a key strategic link between the Platinum SDI and the Treasure Route SDI and contains the identified site of an industrial development zone (IDZ) located at Mafikeng Airport. This development zone at Mafikeng will re-deploy the province's international port of entry and is promoted as a hub for the manufacturing of hi-tech electronic components, mineral beneficiation and processing of agricultural products. Other anchor projects for this SDI include meat processing and packaging, goat meat processing and renewable
energy.
To facilitate these anchor projects and other investments into the province, Invest North West offers investors the following services:
• Providing advice on business plans and feasibility studies
• Providing advice on financing options, financial and investment incentives
• Facilitating joint ventures and equity partnerships
• Matchmaking with suitable partners
• Facilitating linkages to business markets
• Site identification
• Work permit applications
• Assisting companies to expand and reinvest
• Providing advice on export issues
• Linking foreign buyers to local exporters
Invest North West strives to put together sustainable partnerships between people and entities so that various strengths can be combined to ensure the success of each business venture.
For more information on SDIs in North West, or for information on investing in the province, contact Lesley Welman at INW on +27 14 594 2570 or email lesley@inw.org.za
