South Africa’s Automotive Supplier Park (ASP) at Rosslyn,
north-west of Pretoria, was officially opened yesterday by Gauteng
Premier Mbhazima Shilowa.
The ASP is a Blue IQ initiative, funded by the provincial government, and is aimed at creating sustainable economic growth within the South African automotive sector.
Blue IQ has said previously that the new park will have a significant effect on the competitiveness of the Gauteng-based automotive manufacturers, many of which are also based in the Rosslyn area, a key ‘vehicle-making hub’ in South Africa.
It also forms part of an automotive cluster project, and will serve four major vehicle manufacturers in Gauteng, namely BMW, Ford, Nissan and Fiat.
Speaking during the ceremony, Gauteng Premier Shilowa said that, by enhancing the efficiency and the manufacturing capacity of the local automotive industry, the park would play a critical role towards the ‘smart’ transformation of the province.
The park is designed and based on world-class automotive supplier logistics, where it will serve multiple vehicle and vehicle component manufacturers.
The land was officially designated for the ASP development two years ago, in a sod-turning ceremony.
MD for the ASP Development Company Jochen Freese said, “The project is a pioneering concept in that it will enable this industry to prosper due to the automotive manufacturing chain processes and cost efficiency”.
The park has been created on the lines of providing sustained industry-based economic development, and is situated on 100 ha of land, where transport savings are secured through close proximity to other auto manufacturers, commercial and conference facilities and immediate rail access.
A 50 000 m2 logistics centre is situated at the heart of the park, which has started to be developed, alongside mini-factories, during the course of 2003.
A central hub has also been completed recently, with an estimated 2 000 m2 of office space.
Blue IQ’s commitment to the project was about R200-million.
However, it indicated yesterday that the ASP is requiring further capital injection, estimated between R600 000 and R800 000, from private investors, in order to reach full capacity.
Blue IQ affirmed that the ASP supports previously-disadvantaged groups and consortia, as well as small and medium enterprises, where black economic empowerment targets have ranged from 30% to 80% in the different project teams of development.
The ASP is a Blue IQ initiative, funded by the provincial government, and is aimed at creating sustainable economic growth within the South African automotive sector.
Blue IQ has said previously that the new park will have a significant effect on the competitiveness of the Gauteng-based automotive manufacturers, many of which are also based in the Rosslyn area, a key ‘vehicle-making hub’ in South Africa.
It also forms part of an automotive cluster project, and will serve four major vehicle manufacturers in Gauteng, namely BMW, Ford, Nissan and Fiat.
Speaking during the ceremony, Gauteng Premier Shilowa said that, by enhancing the efficiency and the manufacturing capacity of the local automotive industry, the park would play a critical role towards the ‘smart’ transformation of the province.
The park is designed and based on world-class automotive supplier logistics, where it will serve multiple vehicle and vehicle component manufacturers.
The land was officially designated for the ASP development two years ago, in a sod-turning ceremony.
MD for the ASP Development Company Jochen Freese said, “The project is a pioneering concept in that it will enable this industry to prosper due to the automotive manufacturing chain processes and cost efficiency”.
The park has been created on the lines of providing sustained industry-based economic development, and is situated on 100 ha of land, where transport savings are secured through close proximity to other auto manufacturers, commercial and conference facilities and immediate rail access.
A 50 000 m2 logistics centre is situated at the heart of the park, which has started to be developed, alongside mini-factories, during the course of 2003.
A central hub has also been completed recently, with an estimated 2 000 m2 of office space.
Blue IQ’s commitment to the project was about R200-million.
However, it indicated yesterday that the ASP is requiring further capital injection, estimated between R600 000 and R800 000, from private investors, in order to reach full capacity.
Blue IQ affirmed that the ASP supports previously-disadvantaged groups and consortia, as well as small and medium enterprises, where black economic empowerment targets have ranged from 30% to 80% in the different project teams of development.
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Edited by: laurian clemence
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