The Eastern Cape based Coega Development Corporation, which operates the 9003ha Coega Special Economic Zone, announced on Monday that it has extended its market offering beyond the South African borders into Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR) and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the Coega Africa Programme (CAP).
In Zimbabwe, the CDC is providing consulting services to develop the Norton (Lentsloane) and Eco-soft Special Economic Zones in Harare, privately owned by TD Holdings.
TD Holdings has interest in other businesses, which include, amongst others, Energy, Capital, Lunar Global Foods, Sunlands Eco-Estate, and Redwing Agro-City. The Sod Turning for the SEZs is planned for November 2020.
The focus is on advisory services for the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Harare with an estimated investment value in excess of US$ 15m; SEZ and Dry Port (DP) in Norton- Harare with an estimated investment value of US$ 336m (SEZ & DP).
The CAP further obtained a 20-year concession of Logistics Bases in Douala in Central African Republic for the development of a Dry Port for the storage of goods. The project will commence in April 2021 with an estimated investment value of US$ 30m.
The CDC is awaiting confirmation of projects in Cameroon and the DRC.
These developments are positive for South Africa and CDC in particular given the recent establishment of the African Continent Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Through its African Trade and Investment Solutions Strategy, the CDC is championing the country’s enterprise for business between South Africa and the rest of the continent.
“Our market development programme to the rest of the African Continent is aligned to the President Ramaphosa’s call to promote the development and economic integration of the African Continent.
“Moreover, the CDC is responding to the continental strategy that was set out by the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development,” says CDC Marketing, Brand and Communication Head, Dr Ayanda Vilakazi.
The CDC is able to effectively extend its products and services to the rest of the continent due to its 21-year expertise in project managing mega infrastructure projects, especially at the Coega SEZ as well as on behalf of government clients throughout South Africa.
The CDC’s well-resourced Project management division boosts a highly skilled and competent professionals who specialise in the Built Environment including cost engineering.
Moreover, the CDC has a proven track record in infrastructure development and project management and it has delivered projects successfully within budget, scope and timeframes.
The organisation utilizes an arsenal of project management systems and models to ensure the successful implementation of projects. This has enabled Coega over the past 8 years to win international awards of excellence as well as the prestigious 6th Annual South African Premier Business Award, i.e., SA’s Investor of the Year Award.
These Awards are hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), in partnership with Proudly South African and Brand South Africa, to recognise and celebrate enterprises that contribute to the growth of the economy and development of our country.
The organization has also achieved the following ISO standards, i.e., ISO 9 001: 2015 (Quality Management); ISO 14 001: 2015 (Environmental Management); ISO 45 001: 2018 (Occupation Health & Safety); ISO 20 001 (IT Service Management); ISO 27 001 (Information Management); and ISO 31 000 (Risk Management).
Enthusiastic about the progress the Coega Africa Programme has achieved thus far, Mr. Idris Mouchilli, CDC’s Coega Africa Programme Director said, “we are looking forward to expanding our expertise to further contribute in bringing sustainable development to the greater African continent.”
The CDC wishes to congratulate the South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel, who has been elected to chair the African Ministers of Trade (AMOT), and further supports his views about prioritising the finalisation of the outstanding work and negotiations required to enable the start of trading under the African Continent Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) from January 1, 2021.
AMOT is the Ministerial body tasked with finalising negotiations on the terms of preferential trade under the AfCFTA. The trade deal could eventually include over 50 African countries and their 1.3-billion citizens, making it potentially the largest free trade area in the world.
The countries potentially involved in the bloc currently have a combined gross domestic product of $3.4-trillion. The CDC is ready to take advantage of these opportunities on the continent, concludes Dr. Vilakazi.