A new era of investing in Mpumalanga

There are many varied and exciting opportunities for investment in Mpumalanga. Department of Economic Development and Tourism MEC Vusi Mkhatshwa outlines the dynamic investment climate in the province.

Mpumalanga Province is increasingly being seen as an investment destination of choice and we are working hard to market it as such. Quarterly investment roundtable discussions in each of the province’s three districts have been held and international visits are promoting the province’s qualities. The Investment Summit is a culmination of this process, but it will also continue beyond the Summit. The private sector has announced huge investments in the province, targeting projects in solar energy, wind energy, biomass, battery storage, gas, wood-bonding material, hybrid fuel rods, waste gas from ferrochrome, land rehabilitation, reclamation of mine water and sustainable agriculture. We are proud to announce that the Mpumalanga Green Cluster has been granted membership of the ICN (International Cleantech Network). This gives the province access to over 15 000 tech companies, providing opportunities for information, knowledge, technology and business exchange, further boosting Mpumalanga’s prospects for job creation and investment attraction. These sorts of structures and partnerships are relatively new and are a way to ensure that the best aspects of government, business and academia can be applied towards development that unlocks jobs and investment. We see the Green Cluster as a key mechanism for the implementation of enabling investment in the Green Economy. Several energy projects have been launched. For example, investment commitments to the value of R75-billion in wind energy have been secured, which have the potential to create over 13 000 jobs. Municipalities are aware of the work that must be done to grow the Green Economy. In support of potential new investments and working with the Office of the Premier, our department has successfully hosted an Energy Summit at eMalahleni, with the objective to create pathways for a “Just Transition”. Rebooting the economy to accommodate the Green Economy in a just way will create tremendous opportunities for creative investors in Mpumalanga. As an indication that we are on the right track, the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone already has an investment pipeline worth over R10-billion in the agroprocessing, green energy and logistics sectors. We invite other investors to join the new wave of investing in Mpumalanga!

MEC Vusi Mkhatshwa