* 3 companies with a total investment value of P994 million licensed at SSKIA * Investor proposing to invest P200 million in Lobatse SEZ
The Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) has so far licensed a total of three companies with a total investment value of about P994 million (R217 million, $50 million and $39.4 million) to start operations at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport SEZ (SSKIA-SEZ).
“These companies are expected to create an estimated total of 275 jobs,” said Trade and Industry Minister Mmusi Kgafela in response to a question from Member of Parliament for Lobatse, Dr. Thapelo Matsheka.
The MP had aseked whether the Minister is aware that some of the investors in the SSKIA-SEZ have lost money and interest on the commencement of operations of the zone due to delays in the resumption of their project.
“My Ministry is not aware of any SEZ licensed company that has lost money and interest to commence operations at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport SEZ (SSKIA-SEZ),” Kgafela replied.
Instead the Minister said that SEZA is facilitating all these companies with land sub leases and applications to access the various SEZ incentives to commence their business operations.
As for Lobatse Special Economic Zone, Kgafela said that SEZA is currently at an early stage of assessing an investor who is proposing to invest an amount of P200 million with an estimated 200 job opportunities.
He told Parliament that parallel to the SEZS Master Planning and Declaration processes, the Ministry continues to market and engage with potential SEZ Investors who wish to set up businesses in SEZS.
He said SEZA is also currently in talks with a turn-key financier with potential to develop the Lobatse SEZ for investors to setup.
By way of background Kgafela explained that in 2013 the Ministry of Trade and Industry identified Lobatse as one of the suitable localities for the establishment, development and management of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
This followed a study which was undertaken by the Kaizer and Associates Consultants. According to Kgafela, following the approval of the SEZ Policy of 2011 and SEZ Act No. 13 of 2015, his Ministry consulted the Local Authorities in Lobatse to assist in the identification of a suitable SEZ site.
He revealed that the Lobatse Full Council Session in 2019 passed a Council Resolution recommending that Spitskop Zone (369ha) and the Leather Park Zone (36.17ha) to be part of the Lobatse SEZ.
He indicated that the Minister of Trade and Industry ultimately declared Lobatse SEZ, Spitskop and Leather Park Zones, as published in the Government Gazette dated 11th June 2021, in accordance with the provisions of Section 29 (5-7) of the SEZ Act No. 13 of 2015.
“Parallel to the Lobatse SEZ declaration process, SEZA engaged Consultants to prepare the Lobatse SEZ Master Plan - Business Case and Urban and landscape Designs. The project commenced in November 2019 and was completed in October 2021.
“The project took longer than expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Master Plan entailed a cadastral survey of Phase One (100ha) plots as one of the project deliverables,” Kgafela said in answer to Dr Matsheka’s question.
The MP had wanted to know when Lobatse was declared a Special Economic Zone; What infrastructure development has commenced in the identified area; What level of investment has been pledged or is under consideration for the area and the jobs expected to be created.
Kgafela revealed that full infrastructure development, that is, land servicing for Phase one (100ha) is expected to commence during the 2023/24 financial year under the Developer Manager model to be implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works.
In addition, he said the development of the Lobatse Leather Park on the Spitskop Zone by the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) has already commenced with minimal works which entails bush clearing and fencing of the Zone.
Kgafela admitted that there are few challenges more especially delays in facilitating investors. He told Parliament that his Ministry is currently attending to the challenges by bringing key stakeholders on board with a view to expeditiously facilitate these companies to commence their business operations.
“These companies are expected to create an estimated total of 275 jobs,” said Trade and Industry Minister Mmusi Kgafela in response to a question from Member of Parliament for Lobatse, Dr. Thapelo Matsheka.
The MP had aseked whether the Minister is aware that some of the investors in the SSKIA-SEZ have lost money and interest on the commencement of operations of the zone due to delays in the resumption of their project.
“My Ministry is not aware of any SEZ licensed company that has lost money and interest to commence operations at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport SEZ (SSKIA-SEZ),” Kgafela replied.
Instead the Minister said that SEZA is facilitating all these companies with land sub leases and applications to access the various SEZ incentives to commence their business operations.
As for Lobatse Special Economic Zone, Kgafela said that SEZA is currently at an early stage of assessing an investor who is proposing to invest an amount of P200 million with an estimated 200 job opportunities.
He told Parliament that parallel to the SEZS Master Planning and Declaration processes, the Ministry continues to market and engage with potential SEZ Investors who wish to set up businesses in SEZS.
He said SEZA is also currently in talks with a turn-key financier with potential to develop the Lobatse SEZ for investors to setup.
By way of background Kgafela explained that in 2013 the Ministry of Trade and Industry identified Lobatse as one of the suitable localities for the establishment, development and management of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
This followed a study which was undertaken by the Kaizer and Associates Consultants. According to Kgafela, following the approval of the SEZ Policy of 2011 and SEZ Act No. 13 of 2015, his Ministry consulted the Local Authorities in Lobatse to assist in the identification of a suitable SEZ site.
He revealed that the Lobatse Full Council Session in 2019 passed a Council Resolution recommending that Spitskop Zone (369ha) and the Leather Park Zone (36.17ha) to be part of the Lobatse SEZ.
He indicated that the Minister of Trade and Industry ultimately declared Lobatse SEZ, Spitskop and Leather Park Zones, as published in the Government Gazette dated 11th June 2021, in accordance with the provisions of Section 29 (5-7) of the SEZ Act No. 13 of 2015.
“Parallel to the Lobatse SEZ declaration process, SEZA engaged Consultants to prepare the Lobatse SEZ Master Plan - Business Case and Urban and landscape Designs. The project commenced in November 2019 and was completed in October 2021.
“The project took longer than expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Master Plan entailed a cadastral survey of Phase One (100ha) plots as one of the project deliverables,” Kgafela said in answer to Dr Matsheka’s question.
The MP had wanted to know when Lobatse was declared a Special Economic Zone; What infrastructure development has commenced in the identified area; What level of investment has been pledged or is under consideration for the area and the jobs expected to be created.
Kgafela revealed that full infrastructure development, that is, land servicing for Phase one (100ha) is expected to commence during the 2023/24 financial year under the Developer Manager model to be implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works.
In addition, he said the development of the Lobatse Leather Park on the Spitskop Zone by the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) has already commenced with minimal works which entails bush clearing and fencing of the Zone.
Kgafela admitted that there are few challenges more especially delays in facilitating investors. He told Parliament that his Ministry is currently attending to the challenges by bringing key stakeholders on board with a view to expeditiously facilitate these companies to commence their business operations.
