Gqeberha, South Africa, 19 October 2023 – As African countries pursue sustainable opportunities for economic development and job creation, importance is placed on maximising local resources and industrial strengths. Recently, the City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city and once an industrial powerhouse, visited the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as part of a week-long benchmarking tour to South Africa’s most reputable industrial and economic zones. The visit was organised through the department of trade, industry, and competition (the dtic).
“As a designated SEZ in Zimbabwe, the City of Bulawayo travelled to South Africa, to learn from successful SEZs as part of preparations for the development our own SEZ. Our visit was facilitated by SEZ Africa,” said City of Bulawayo Town Clerk, Mr. Christopher Dube.
The visit included a detailed presentation of Coega’s development and performance since inception in 1999, its expansion strategy, and a guided tour through the fourteen (14) Coega SEZ clusters.
“The tour exceeded our expectations. It has been a fruitful day. We are trying not to reinvent the wheel but to learn from those who are ahead of us. Thank you for the exposure – we have learnt a lot,” said Mr. Dube.
Programme Director for Client Solutions, Dr. Siyabonga Simayi, emphasised the value of cross-sector engagements between like-minded organisations. “At Coega, we believe in the power of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and learning, to build strong and prosperous communities and the Continent. The objective of this engagement was to foster mutually beneficial partnerships and explore potential synergies by sharing valuable knowledge and experiences in economic development.”
The Coega SEZ’s remarkable success stands as a testament to what visionary planning, strategic positioning, and unwavering commitment can achieve, providing a blueprint for the development of SEZs across the African continent.
Mr. Idriss Mouchili, Director of the Coega Africa Programme, shared: “The establishment of special economic zones is a critical catalyst for economic growth, industrialisation, and development. The knowledge shared and the strategies discussed during this visit will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the City of Bulawayo.”
The Coega SEZ’s robust infrastructure, competent personnel, commitment to good governance, and effective partnerships are a few of the qualities that have led to its success. By drawing upon these lessons, others can unlock their own SEZ potential, driving economic growth and job creation.
Mr. Mmeli Mdluli, Managing Director of SEZ Africa, stated the overarching aim of the visit: “We want to ask questions, find relevant solutions, get down to work, and implement. We are here as students, to learn, explore synergies, become partners. At SEZ Africa, we are committed to transforming the city into a vibrant SEZ, and this visit has been an invaluable step in that direction.”
Through the flagship Coega Africa Programme, Coega has expanded its non-SEZ services to African markets including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Senegal. “In the pursuit for economic transformation and sustainable growth, the Coega SEZ stands as a beacon of hope and a model for development not only in South Africa but also across the African continent, in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” concluded Simayi.
