KwaZulu-Natal Legislators commend the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone for attracting investments worth billions of Rands
The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Portfolio on Economic Development and Tourism has commended the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ), for creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive which has seen investments worth billions of rands being pumped into the economy of the province.
The committee on Friday 20 March visited Nyanza Light Metals, a multi-billion plant which is going to produce 80 000-ton titanium dioxide pigment per annum when completed in the next three years. The legislators also visited Wilmar, another multi-billion rand plant that imports, stores, and trades unrefined products.
Speaking after the visits and after receiving a comprehensive update on the upcoming investments, the Chairperson of the KZN Legislature Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, Hon. Mafika Mndebele said the legislature delegation felt that the special economic zone was doing exceptionally well in terms of creating an enabling environment that attracts investment.
“We did not only visit two manufacturing plants, but we also received a detailed report on all projects that the RBIDZ has facilitated which includes multi-billion Rand energy projects. The CEO of RBIDZ, Mr Thabane Zulu, showed us that these projects are at different stages of implementation, and they are expected to be completed in the next few years. As the legislators, we will continue to keep a watchful eye on how this important zone operates because we want to see a sustained campaign to draw the attention of investors to the region and to motivate existing firms towards expansions,” added Mndebele.
Mndebele said the committee had noted challenges that needed to be addressed to ensure that the special economic zone continued to execute its mandate of attracting investments.
“We have noted that most of the major projects have specialists from other countries who are helping in terms of setting up these projects. We have informed the leadership of the RBIDZ to ensure that there is meaningful transfer of skills to local people when major projects are implemented. This will enable us as a country to have adequate skills.”
ISSUED BY THE KZN LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE, MR MAFIKA MNDEBELE
For media interviews: Mr Mafika Mndebele 0837835164
For media enquiries: Mr Bongani Tembe 0823272600
or Ms Choice Sihiya – 084 207 5823 (RBIDZ)
