Invest North West
Investing Together
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, services include destination marketing, investment facilitation, trade development and aftercare to existing North West businesses.
Linking investment to science
The North West Science Park, Platinum City and opportunities in aquaculture
The North West Science Park
With the aid of Invest North West, the North West province is keeping up with the global trend of developing science parks to create and promote regional innovation systems. A science park is an area with a collection of innovative, high technology businesses situated close to an established innovative university. Regional hubs
stimulate the regional economy by transferring new technologies to existing and new businesses, stimulating growth and job creation.
The North West University (NWU) provides an excellent opportunity for the development of such a regional innovation system. NWU, which received a national award for the most innovative progressive higher educational institution in South Africa, is ideally located in the municipality of Potchefstroom. The establishment of a science park close to NWU will not only make a significant contribution to Potchefstroom’s manufacturing sector but also to the long-term competitiveness of the region.
A location has already been set aside for the project that fulfils the internationally-accepted requirements of such a park and a preliminary design has been prepared. Start-up innovative/high-technology companies, independent businesses and services providers are being sought as anchor tenants. In addition, Industry Development Centres that could develop their own products with the support of the NWU are required as key categories and businesses to occupy the science park.
For more information contact Hantie at Invest North West on +27 14 594 2570 or email hantie@inw.org.za
Platinum City
The North West is known as the Platinum Province and as such INW is driving the establishment of a platinum theme park in Rustenburg - Platinum City. The park will act as a doorway to the world of platinum production – a tourism asset with class, and an information hub for the mining industry.
Platinum City, as it is presently envisaged, will not only showcase the mineral and its applications via a simulated mine experience to the ‘coal face’ of the operation, but will also serve to harness the province’s mineral wealth as a manufacturing hub for platinum jewellery, catalytic converters for the motor industry and other platinum applications.
Other potential benefits of the park include:
• Skills development and training in the field of jewellery making and design
• The underground mine experience – to be simulated in the park with an associated platinum mint
• A hotel and conference facility that will combine the modern attributes of platinum with the rustic charms well known in this region
For more information contact Floyd Leeuw at Invest North West on +27 14 594 2570 or email floyd@inw.org.za
Aquaculture in North West
The North West province has linked up with Catfish Supreme to offer an attractive
investment opportunity and contribute to the industry’s meaningful progress in South Africa. The project
involves the production of top quality fresh, frozen and smoked catfish products, as well as reclaimed fish meat, for export to Japan. Smaller amounts will be sold through local supermarkets to develop the local market.
The province has invested considerable amounts of time and money on research and development of the reproduction, growth and storage of catfish, and as such support will also be given to new units to ensure they are in full production as soon as possible. In addition, new managers will receive specialised training in co-operation with academics from South African tertiary institutions.
The total cost of the project, which will produce approximately 1 000 tons of live catfish, will depend on the size of the units built. The total investment has been tabled at between R27-million and R40-million, with the condition that company members contribute 15%, with the remainder being financed.
For more information contact Elijah at Invest North West on +27 14 594 2570 or email elijah@inw.org.za
