Lim SEZ delegates visit Turkey

Limpopo Special Economic Zones (SEZs) delegates are currently on an outbound investment mission to Turkey that commenced on Monday and is expected to conclude tomorrow (Friday).
It was learnt that the purpose of the trip was to visit the Turkish SEZ for benchmarking for the Musina-Makhado and Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZs. It was further reported that the provincial delegation comprising of officials from the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet), Limpopo Economic Development Agency (Leda) and representatives from the two planned SEZs will also be meeting sector industries associations for sector support programmes bench marking and possible partnerships.
The Musina-Makhado SEZ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lehlogonolo Masoga informed Polokwane Observer that the outbound mission was primarily aimed at learning from the experiences of the pioneers in the field of SEZs and simultaneous promoting the Musina-Makhado SEZ as a strategic premier destination for investment in Limpopo. “As the Musina-Makhado SEZ State Owned Company, we are committed to expanding and diversifying our investment portfolio across various sectors to maximize job creation opportunities and grow our economy through beneficiation and manufacturing driven industrialisation. Turkey has distinguished itself as a major global player in the clothing and textiles sector and manufacturing driven industrialisation hence the Department of Trade and Industry has initiated this mission and invited Limpopo and few other provinces to participate. Through this acquired learning experience we are now empowered to take our own SEZ to another level,” Masoga explained.
Information obtained from the Department of Trade and Industry highlighted that this was part of the department SEZs investment roadshow to Mersin and Ankara, Turkey. In a statement the department went on to indicate that the roadshow would take place in a form of seminars, one-on-one meetings and visit to Turkish SEZs. It was further learnt that Turkey was chosen given that it is one of the countries that have successfuly developed 18 SEZs which attracted over 19 000 operational companies, investing over $20 billion and have created over 70 000 jobs. The Turkey roadshow follows a SEZs investment roadshow that took place from 5 to 6 September in Chengdu, China.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za