South Africa has 13 SEZs (Special Economic Zones) that have been designated across eight of the country’s nine provinces.
SEZs receive Specific Infrastructure Support and Incentive Benefits from National Government. The cumulative value of disbursed infrastructure support funding sourced from the SEZ fund is slightly above R12 billion. The lion share percentage distribution of the funding in concern is mostly concentrated towards TASEZ (31%), Coega (20%), ELIDZ (18%), SBIDZ (9%), and RBIDZ (8%), respectively.
The zones are delimited areas to attract investment that contain high-quality infrastructure, expedited customs and administrative procedures and incentives.
The designated SEZs hosts 224 tenant companies with a combined investment of R31,744 billion.
The main sectors that are represented across the zones are automotive (30%), logistics (29%), general manufacturing (14%), agro-processing (8%) and chemicals (6%).
Collectively, the SEZs have created 28 821 direct jobs.
The zones are designed to create new industrial hubs, promote industrial capabilities, promote natural resource beneficiation and value addition, attract foreign and direct investment, accelerate economic growth and innovate economic activities.
Coega SEZ Award of the Year:
In winning the Special Economic Zone of the Year Award, Coega has been recognised as the overall top-performing zone based on investor attraction, industrial impact, jobs, sustainability, governance, innovation, and contribution to national industrialisation priorities.
Situated in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole Coega has cemented it’s position as a serious player in terms of investor confidence especially within he confines of the relatively unattractive economic state of the region.
Coega boasts the transhipment Port of Nqura and was represented at the conference by three investors also exhibiting: Cerebos Salt, Dynamic Commodities and BAIC Automaotive.
The Port of Nqura makes Algoa Bay unique along the South African Coastline with tow ports – the other being the Port of Port Elizabeth.
Other Award Winners:
A total of 6 awards were granted on the night, along with Coega these 5 also received awards from the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.
- Best Special Economic Zone Newcomer: Tshwane SEZ – Recognised as a high-performing newer SEZs that has demonstrated strong foundational progress, credible planning, operational momentum, and future growth potential.
- Most Improved SEZ: O.R. Tambo SEZ – Recognised as a zone that has shown measurable improvement in investment, jobs, exports, operational performance, or strategic positioning over the recent assessment period.
- SEZ Investor of the Year: Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone – Recognised as an SEZ with a significant investor whose operations within a zone have contributed meaningfully to industrial growth, employment creation, investment expansion, localisation, and community value.
- SEZ Demonstration of Good Governance: Atlantis SEZ – Recognised as an operational Special Economic Zones in South Africa that demonstrates exceptional institutional integrity, statutory compliance, and administrative efficiency. This category highlights entities that mitigate operational risks through robust internal controls and transparent reporting.
- Investment Facilitation: Dube Trade Port – Recognised as a zone that provides outstanding investment facilitation proactive investor aftercare, improves investor efficiency, confidence, retention and operational competitiveness.
At the awards Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa delivered the keynote address at the Nkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Ethekwini.
Keynote Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa:
Tonight we gather not only to celebrate excellence, but to celebrate possibility.
We celebrate the possibility of a South Africa that manufactures more, exports more, innovates more and creates far greater opportunities for its people.
We celebrate the men and women who are transforming ideas into industries, investments into factories, and factories into jobs.
Above all, we celebrate our shared determination to build an economy that is competitive, inclusive, resilient and capable of delivering prosperity for all.
This evening’s awards therefore represent far more than recognition for outstanding performance.
They arm our belief that industrialisation remains one of the most powerful instruments available to us to overcome poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Special Economic Zones are not simply designated industrial sites.
They are engines of economic transformation.
They are places where policy is translated into production, where investment becomes enterprise, where innovation becomes competitiveness, and where hope becomes opportunity.
Investment remains the lifeblood of every growing economy.
It finances new factories, expands productive capacity, opens access to international markets and creates sustainable employment.
Investment strengthens domestic industries, deepens value addition, expands exports and generates the resources that enable governments to improve the lives of their citizens.
This is why South Africa continues to place investment promotion at the centre of our economic programme.
Just over three months ago, at the Sixth South Africa Investment Conference, we secured a record R890 billion in investment commitments.
These commitments span strategic sectors including mining and mineral beneficiation, automotive manufacturing, agro processing, tourism, renewable energy, digital technologies and the green economy.
Much of this investment will find its home within our Special Economic Zones.
In the automotive sector alone, approximately R12 billion of planned investment is destined for our SEZ programme.
The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone stands as compelling evidence of what can be achieved when government and business work together.
The investment by Ford and its component manufacturers has already created more than 3,000 permanent jobs while strengthening South Africa’s position as a globally competitive automotive manufacturing hub.
Our Special Economic Zones programme has become one of the cornerstones of our national investment strategy.
Through modern infrastructure, secure industrial sites, reliable utilities, efficient logistics and integrated one-stop investor support, our SEZs reduce the cost of doing business and improve investor confidence.
They help transform investment commitments into productive enterprises that create lasting economic value.
This Second International Special Economic Zones Conference takes place at a defining moment in our country’s economic journey.
South Africa has recently completed a comprehensive recalibration of its industrial policy through the adoption of our new Industrial Development Strategy.
This strategy responds directly to the structural challenges of low growth, de-industrialisation and unemployment.
It is built upon three strategic pillars: decarbonising our industries, diversifying our export markets, and accelerating digital industrialisation. Complementing this is our new Spatial Industrial Development Strategy, which introduces a strengthened SEZ model designed to ensure that industrial development generates greater benefits for surrounding communities, supports local enterprise development and advances inclusive regional growth.
Independent evidence confirms that this approach is delivering results.
A recent World Bank assessment found that South Africa’s Special Economic Zones have attracted more than R34 billion in investment, created over 30,000 direct jobs, and generated more than R14 billion in revenue for the fiscus.
These achievements are encouraging.
Yet they also remind us that our greatest opportunities still lie ahead.
The World Bank has proposed several important reforms, including enhanced investment incentives and the introduction of privately owned Special Economic Zones.
Government will carefully consider these recommendations as we continue strengthening the programme and ensuring that it remains globally competitive.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Industrial development today is no longer defined only by the production of goods.
It is increasingly about technological capability, innovation, sustainability and resilience.
Around the world, nations are reshaping their industrial policies to strengthen supply chains, improve competitiveness and secure strategic industries.
South Africa must do the same.
Our Special Economic Zones are central to this effort. They will play an increasingly important role in advanced manufacturing, electric mobility, renewable energy technologies, green hydrogen, battery manufacturing, digital industries, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing and the beneficiation of our abundant mineral resources.
They will enable us not merely to export raw materials, but increasingly to export higher-value manufactured products.
They will help position South Africa as a leading industrial economy on the African continent.
We are equally determined to ensure that our investment climate continues to improve.
We are reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens.
We are accelerating approvals for permits, licences and environmental authorisations. We are strengthening customs systems and expanding one-stop investor services.
We have made significant progress in restoring energy security.
We continue to improve freight logistics, modernise our ports and rail infrastructure, and strengthen transport corridors that connect our industries to regional and global markets.
These reforms are making South Africa an increasingly attractive destination for productive investment.
Our Special Economic Zones should not be islands of prosperity.
Their success must benefit the broader economy. They must create opportunities for small businesses. They must support localisation. They must develop new generations of skilled workers. They must empower women and young entrepreneurs.
They must stimulate surrounding towns and communities. And they must become centres from which innovation and prosperity radiate throughout our country.
I am especially pleased to welcome the many representatives from across our African continent.
Your presence reflects our shared commitment to building an integrated African economy.
Through the African Continental Free Trade Area, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build regional value chains, strengthen intra-African trade and position Africa as a globally competitive manufacturing destination.
South Africa’s Special Economic Zones will continue working closely with our continental partners to realise this vision.
Tonight we recognise excellence.
We honour institutions that have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, governance and performance.
We celebrate those who have successfully attracted investment, created employment, developed industrial capability and managed their zones to the highest international standards.
Whether receiving an award this evening or not, every Special Economic Zone, every offcial, every investor, every engineer, every planner, every entrepreneur and every worker has contributed to the remarkable progress of this programme.
You have helped build industries. You have strengthened investor confidence. You have created opportunities for thousands of South Africans.
You have demonstrated what is possible when vision is matched by commitment and hard work. For that, our nation thanks you.
To all our award recipients, congratulations. Your achievements set new benchmarks for excellence.
May your success inspire every Special Economic Zone to innovate further, perform better and reach even greater heights.
As we look to the future, let us remember that excellence is never a destination. It is a continuous pursuit.
Let us therefore continue building Special Economic Zones that compete with the very best in the world.
Let us continue attracting investment that changes lives.
Let us continue building industries that create lasting prosperity.
And let us continue working together to build a South Africa that is more industrialised, more competitive, more inclusive and more prosperous for generations to come.
I thank you.
Images:
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/user/CoegaDevCorp/
Coega Development Corporation Scoops Top Special Economic Zone of the Year Award
Links:
Boilerplate and Editor’s Notes.
More Info on Coega Development Corporation Scoops Top Special Economic Zone of the Year Award here:
X: https://twitter.com/coegadevcorp
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coega-development-corporation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoegaDevCorp/
CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.
Track Your Press Release HERE:
Check Online Visibility
Verify where this release is currently indexed:
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- Dreyer Linen Readies Festive Tablecloths and Towels - 8 October 2026
- Loan on Cars Stays Open Seven Days a Week This October - 8 October 2026
- Freeman House Recovery Brings Addiction Care Outdoors - 8 October 2026
- Kaelo Destinations Spotlights Private Safari & Beach Homes - 8 October 2026
- The Gold Avenue Explains How Carat Shapes a Gold Jewellery Offer - 7 October 2026
