The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) will host the second International Special Economic Zones Infrastructure and Investment conference at the Durban International Convention Centre on July 16 and 17.

The theme of the conference will be 'Reigniting Industrialisation through Special Economic Zones'.

The conference will bring together high-level local and international investors, and serve as a platform where innovative solutions will be proposed to facilitate and build vibrant special economic zones (SEZs), as well as attracting investment into South Africa, the dtic says.

Government and business representatives and international SEZ experts from the Southern African Development Community will share insights on SEZs as tools for industrial development.

The conference will emphasise the importance of public-private collaboration in growing the South African economy, as well as the need for cross-border collaboration.

This topic is relevant to support the implementation of the new Spatial Development Strategy and the acceleration of regional integration through cross-border SEZs as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, the department says.

Companies operating in South Africa’s SEZs will also get an opportunity to showcase their products to the conference attendees in a two-day exhibition that will take place alongside the conference.

On the final day, the Special Economic Zones Achievement Awards will recognise the best practices of successful SEZs.

South Africa’s SEZs Programme is a key industrial policy instrument aimed at driving economic growth, attracting both foreign and domestic direct investment, accelerating industrialisation and creating jobs, says Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau.

Government has identified private investment mobilisation as a central mechanism for achieving growth targets consistent with meaningful unemployment reduction, he notes.

“The primary objectives of our SEZs Programme include enhancing exports through industrialisation initiatives and establishing world-class infrastructure, which are aimed at creating sustainable employment opportunities in the country. The programme aims to drive economic growth, create employment and deliver infrastructure,” says Tau.

The dtic will host the conference in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA).

The conference is a strategic platform to drive investment, deepen industrialisation and unlock new opportunities for inclusive economic growth across the province, says EDTEA MEC Musa Zondi.

“KwaZulu-Natal is positioning SEZs as cornerstones of our economic development agenda. We view the two SEZs in KwaZulu-Natal as strategic assets that can serve as catalysts for enhanced competitiveness, sustainable job creation, and expanded trade opportunities,” he says.