African market is important for sustainable growth

• Published date: 26 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

With May celebrated as Africa Month, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has identified the rest of the African continent as an important market for sustainable growth.

This is consistent with its strategic plan 2020-2025, but also as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

'In the next financial year, the CDC will focus on fast-tracking the implementation of projects in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Zimbabwe, whilst marketing its services to increase the portfolio of clients,' CDC Programme Director Idriss Mouchili said on Wednesday.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Strategic Framework 2020-2030, has identified cross-border exchanges with the rest of Africa as a key pillar of the implementation of reconfiguring and expansion of existing SEZs.

The CDC has expanded its non-SEZ services to other markets in countries that include Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal under the Coega Africa Programme (CAP).

The CDC is providing technical advisory and co-development of SEZs, industrial parks, dry ports and public infrastructure.

Through its African Trade and Investment Solutions Strategy, the CDC is championing the country's renewed push for business exchanges between South Africa and the rest of the continent.

'The CDC, with its proven track record in infrastructure implementation and programme management spanning over two decades, has delivered mega infrastructure projects successfully within budget, scope and quality standards.

'The organisation has an arsenal of systems and processes, utilising international best practice in project management using advanced project methodology which also enables job creation and transform economies through developing emerging businesses,' the CDC said.

With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than USD3 trillion, the CDC said the...