2 minute read
GREEN TECH
THE GREEN TECH ECONOMIC ZONE
The Atlantis Special Economic Zone is a key element in the Western Cape Government Economic Recovery Plan and the scheduling of the company as a provincial business enterprise bodes very well for its role as a game changer in the renewable energy sector.
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The scheduling of the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (SEZ) State Owned Company (SOC) Limited as a provincial enterprise, has been approved by National Treasury.
The Atlantis SEZ (ASEZCo) with its green tech theme is a unique SEZ that speaks to the needs of investors in green tech manufacturing and is positioned as a cutting-edge destination for said manufacturers wanting to supply their technologies to Independent Power Producers bidding on the National Government renewable energy programme, the REIPPPP.
Western Cape MEC for Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier was delighted with the news of the ASEZCo being scheduled as a government business enterprise, “With this scheduling of the ASEZCo as a 3D listed entity, we are both thankful to National Treasury and excited by the prospects of new investment into infrastructure and green tech manufacturing in the Atlantis area. I trust that this listing of the ASEZCo will contribute significantly to our post-covid recovery efforts as the Western Cape Government.”
This is a major step forward in the evolvement of the Atlantis SEZ into an established and world-class green technology investment destination. Not only does it enable the Atlantis SEZ Company to register the acquired City of Cape Town land
in its name, but it also enables the formalisation of the City of Cape Town minority shareholding in the Atlantis SEZ Company and the transactional ability of the Company to enter into lease agreements with investors.
“Over the past few years, the region has emerged as a major player in the green tech sector with the opening of the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ). The news that ASEZ has been scheduled as a provincial enterprise by National Treasury comes at an opportune time,” said Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth. “Since its inception, the ASEZ has already made around R700-million with at least five large-scale international investors that are fully operational. We are looking forward to greater benefits for the residents and businesses operating in the region.”
“It is with great excitement that we learn of our approved listing. This is one of the ASEZCo’s largest achievements to date, alongside the signing of the sale agreement releasing land to the ASEZCo from the City of Cape Town,” said Dr Pierre Voges. “This will now allow us to accommodate investors on our land who are eager to exploit the opportunities to manufacture components for our green technology value chains in the Western Cape and South Africa.”
With economic recovery comes significant opportunities for employment creation. The ASEZ aims to create up to 1 000 jobs by landing green tech manufacturing investment in the region of R3-billion. Development of green infrastructure globally has been dubbed as a key step in economic recovery post the Covid pandemic. With the final steps concluded in the establishment of the Atlantis Special Economic Zone SOC, the Western Cape aims to capitalise on investors wanting to set up their manufacturing facilities capable of servicing these global green tech value chains.
Siemens wind towers manufactured at the Atlantis green tech SEZ.
