GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality revealed eleven initiatives aimed at expanding the town's attractiveness and efficiency as an investment destination, including the upgrading and extension of the George Airport to an international airport.
Speaking at last week's Garden Route Investment Conference held at Oubaai Resort, George Mayor Melvin Naik said, "We want to unlock all investment opportunities and move over to all the endless opportunities that exist in this economic region of choice."
Pedro Oliphant, manager of George's Local Economic Development division, unpacked potential growth projects envisaged for George.
"Initiatives like the establishment of a Garden Route International Convention Centre, a precinct focused on light industrial, warehousing and logistics, as well as an innovative plan for developing a Silicon Park science and technology park; in addition to the establishment of a resort for tourists at Gwaiing River mouth, are projects that are foreseen as part of future developments," he said.
Other projects on the investment strategy list include the establishment of a call centre (hub) for business process outsourcing; ICT incubator and broadband expansion, and the establishment of an Agri park.
"The Destiny Africa Ecosphere Project is on the cards as a tourism and business hub and a Garden Route University/research institute including ancillary projects are being initiated.
"The Integrated Public Transport Network project (GO GEORGE), including urban design projects, has already commenced."
GrowthGeorge is the largest economy in the district, contributing 39,8% to the GDP of Eden District Municipality. The city's gross value added (GVA) grew by an average of 3,1% between 2015 and 2016, on average growing 0,4 percentage points faster than the Eden district's economy.
Five major South African banks have branches in George.
Incentives
George provides municipal financial incentives by way of discounts on rates and services and discounts to approved investors on the lease or sale of council-owned land.
Rebates on building plan approvals and 50% discount for designated developments, as well as 25% for non-designated developments, are offered to investors.
Capital contributions can be phased in with payment over 5 years. Would-be-investors can work through the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency Wesgro, or South Cape Economic Partnership (Scep), or the local economic development (LED) department.
For more information, visit https://invest.edendm.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Investment-Prospects-George.pdf
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