MOSSEL BAY NEWS - There is renewed impetus for the creation of a Special Economic Zone for the greater Mossel Bay area.
The executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal, had a meeting with the acting director general of the Western Cape, Harry Malilla, on Women's Day, Friday 9 August, to discuss, among other important matters, the need for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The municipal manager of planning and economic development, Gwynnefer Harding, expanded on the importance of an SEZ for the economic development of the greater Southern Cape area.
She highlighted the work that has already been done to have the SEZ declared and emphasised the effective relations with the South Cape Economic Partnership (SCEP) in this regard.
Mallila said the premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, placed particular focus on economic growth and safety. He lauded the Mossel Bay Municipality for the effective, strong political leadership and the efficacy of the administrative management.
"Much of the planning for the SEZ is done. Areas have been identified, the environmental impact assessments are being done and feasibility studies are underway," Harding said.
She added that negotiations with all the relevant departments, also on national level, were progressing well. In this regard, the mayor also discussed the value of the municipality's international relations, especially as Indonesia and China had proposed twinning arrangements and an interest in economic investment in Mossel Bay.
"International counterparts realise the advantage of the stability and peaceful environment and the fact that Mossel Bay is the ideal gateway into the greater Southern Cape, Little Karoo and Central Karoo regions."
Mayor Levendal stressed that the SEZ will benefit the entire Southern Cape, especially when considering the effective road network.
"We also have the railway network, with exciting developments in that respect, as well as the availability of the sea route for both tourism and industrial development.
"The importance of the Port of Mossel Bay has to be stressed. Mossel Bay is ideally situated and relatively safe, creating the optimal environment for economic growth within the Western Cape. This municipality wants to fulfil the premier's ideal of effective job creation."
The director general undertook to ensure the Mossel Bay Municipality initiatives with regards the SEZ receive the necessary serious and urgent attention at provincial government level.
He mentioned the establishment of an economic war room at provincial level to ensure infrastructure development, manufacturing and economic development receive the necessary focus. Harding added that the municipality was revising its incentive policy to attract effective business development in Mossel Bay and the greater Southern Cape region.
Alderman Levendal explained the municipality's moral regeneration project and asked that the director general highlight this to the premier.
"Mossel Bay may be leading other municipalities in this instance; we believe we have to break the cycle of social decline.
"Several initiatives have successfully been implemented and the municipality is convinced that this will auger well for the establishment of the planned drug rehabilitation centre in town. It is imperative that the drug rehabilitation centre be developed to serve the greater Southern Cape area," Alderman Levendal stressed.
The acting director general of the Western Cape, Harry Malilla (front, left), met Mossel Bay executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal, Mossel Bay speaker, Alderman Petru Terblance (back, left) and Councillor Annatjie Janse van Rensburg (back, right) and senior municipal management on Women's Day to discuss effective economic development for the greater Mossel Bay area. Photo: Nickey le Roux
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