The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (Pty) Ltd (RBIDZ)
Tata Steel
The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (Pty) Ltd (RBIDZ) is an agency of the Provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The agency is located in the green province of KwaZulu-Natal within the hastily burgeoning town of Richards Bay. The RBIDZ was incorporated in April 2002
primarily to attract export-oriented manufacturing investment, value-adding and productivity improvements, import replacement and export development. Through these activities, the RBIDZ endeavours to create new permanent employment opportunities, sustain existing employment and improve the socio-economic status of the region. The Zone is a fusion of brown and greenfield industrial development neighbouring an already existing industrial area comprising a total of 345 hectares of land, with a future potential of more than 2100 hectares.
MANDATE
The RBIDZ is mandated to accelerate and improve infrastructure for industrial development throughthe South African government's industrial development zone (IDZ) programme. Launched in 2000 by the Department of Trade and Industry to create industrial complexes that would have strategic economic benefits, the IDZ programme seeks to provide demand driven infrastructure while generating much needed foreign investment and improving
competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. The RBIDZ's strategic objectives are purposefully aligned with the policy intent of the IDZ Programme and are in support of the government's strategic outcomes which, amongst others, include the following:
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Meaningful contribution to the country's economic growth rate
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Creation of employment opportunities thereby improve people's lives
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Beneficiation / adding value to the country's raw materials thus expanding the country's enterprise base and employment
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Upward migration of the country's manufacturing sector on the value chain
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Provision of a platformto upgrade and / or effect technology transfer and diffusion
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Upgrade South Africa's skills base
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Deepening economic empowerment of Historically Disadvantaged Individuals
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Diversification of South Africa's basket of export products
OUR VALUE PROPOSITION
The two phases of the Zone are juxtaposed along the world's first class industry while the deep water Port of Richards Bay provides a substantial volume of beneficiation opportunities for direct and joint venture investments. Connectivity and availability of excellent infrastructure such as roads, rails, telecommunications, electricity, gas, water and accessibility to international air and sea ports reinforces RBIDZ's prestige as a preferred investment hub by investors. The convenient location, facing the trading currents of the IndianOcean, brings it nearer to some of the major international trade routes linking rapidly growing economies of China and India. The Zone is strategically positioned to service Gauteng and its strong mixture of industry, as well as the SADC's emerging market economies, which depend largely on the Port of Richards Bay for trade. This location provides investors seeking efficiency and
wishing to utilise South Africa, in particular Richards Bay, an all-in-one official gateway to sumptuous African markets.
