ATLANTIS SEZ

The Atlantis SEZ is the result of six years of collaborative effort with the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Government and the National Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the DTIC). Owing to its strategic location and envisaged growth, the ASEZ is demonstrating its potential to contribute towards regional economic and spatial development. The Western Cape government submitted an application to the DTIC in 2015 to have parts of the Atlantis Industrial area declared an SEZ after signing a memorandum of understanding with the DTIC in 2013. In October 2017, the DTIC conducted public consultations and received overwhelming support for the Atlantis SEZ’s formation. The decision by the then-minister of trade and industry to appoint the ASEZ was endorsed by the South African Cabinet on June 7, 2018. This was after the Special Economic Zones Advisory Board was satisfied with the rationale and scale of economic opportunities in the region and recommended that the Minister designate the proposed area and grant a SEZ licence to the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism. On December 6, 2018, the ASEZ was officially launched by President Ramaphosa. Provincially, the zone complements the Western Cape Government Green Economy Strategy Framework, and the City of Cape Town’s Atlantis 2023 strategy.

Atlantis Special Economic Zone is a priority development node situated

approximately 40 km north of the Cape Town CBD, 19 km north of Melkbosstrand and 76 km south of Saldanha Bay. It lies between the N7 to Namibia and the R27 West Coast Road. The Atlantis SEZ is projected to grow the Greentech sector in the Western Cape more broadly and revitalise Atlantis as a key industrial node in the region. The zone welcomes manufacturers, service providers, suppliers and other players in the value chains of green technology manufacturing. The designated area of the SEZ is embedded in the existing Atlantis Industria and is mere blocks from the residential area. The community’s role has been fundamental to the ethos of the development of the ASEZ.

Making sure that the project is socially inclusive is important. Every day, we remind ourselves that social inclusivity is something we teach in South Africa, but don’t often practice. The work with community members in Atlantis has been unique in the landscape of economic infrastructure development; members of the community have participated in co creating the SEZ’s implementation plans and shaping their representative structures. A Community Facilitation Agreement was signed in December 2020 with 12 members elected to represent small business, education, women & disabled, and youth sectors through a community stakeholder network.

CURRENT COMMUNITY INITIATIVES:

Community engagement sessions

• Small, focused group meetings with key stakeholders (5 in total), driven by restrictions on public gatherings. • Presentation to Sub-council 1 at their Ward Committee member induction • Continued support and collaboration of Bearfish Strategic

Services work in Atlantis • Engagement with Atlantis Rotary for youth entrepreneurship support

Training roll-out

• Basic welding, mechanical fitting and boilermaking (54 beneficiaries) started 22 Feb 2021. • SARETEC Bolting and Fastening training (12 beneficiaries). • IkamvaYouth programme (90 beneficiaries), annual programme. • Water treatment and Waste management training (20 beneficiaries) commenced end

of November 2020. • Early Childhood Development (20 beneficiaries) commenced end of November 2020. • PV Solar training (30 beneficiaries) - National Business Initiative (NBI),

West Coast College (WCC) and

SARETEC currently recruiting. • Community engagement (15 beneficiaries) started 4 March • Technical training (50 beneficiaries) currently contracting.

Smme/supplier development support

• Project Management (15 beneficiaries) • Business Admin and

Communication (20 beneficiaries) • Solar School (10 beneficiaries)

Infrastructure Development

The ASEZ has developed a masterplan for the role out of infrastructure within the three zones. Although not cast in stone, this gives a good indication of what the industrial park may look like in 3 to 5 years. Coupled with the masterplan, zone and individual sitespecific guidelines were developed to incorporate the Greentech ethos of the ASEZ.

Why would investors want to invest in the Atlantis SEZ?

There are strong and growing South African and African markets for Greentech. The South African Greentech manufacturing market is worth at least R3-billion, with a growing Greentech market in neighbouring countries. South Africa has opportunities in energy, waste, agriculture, transport and other sectors and is a great entry point to the SADC market. Coupled to this, Atlantis is a great location and development ready with ninety-three hectares of zoned land which is available for leasing to investors. Bulk infrastructure is in place and Atlantis has new public transport, fibre connectivity and shipping links. Atlantis is also close to major ports, roads, universities and Greentech markets. Investors have access to extensive investment support through the InvestSA One Stop Shop for investor support and the rest of the investor support ecosystem, which includes GreenCape, the City of Cape Town, and Wesgro. There is an attractive, wide-ranging skills base to recruit from, with five universities and many more colleges in the province, and a large range of unskilled, semi-skilled, technical and professional candidates. Contact Mr Jarrod Lyons - Executive: Business Development for Investment opportunities in the Zone - jarrod@atlantissez.co.za or Hlumela Nama for any media queries Hlumela@atlantissez.co.za. Telephone – 087 183 7000.