Local and regional government in partnership with private industry are stimulating new projects.

South Africa’s Gauteng province boasts the largest regional economy in South Africa and thus plays a vital role in the national economy. An innovational capital, Gauteng is the nation’s “smart province”. In an effort to validate this label and sustain its prosperity, the region’s government partnered up with the private sector and the national government to create a multi-million-dollar investment initiative called Blue IQ.

The initiative calls for the development of economic infrastructure for projects in “smart” industries which include tourism, high value-added manufacturing, logistics, and information and communication technology (ICT). Blue IQ essentially acts as a catalyst to stimulate growth, create jobs and promote strategic private sector investment in these key areas.

Through its various programs, Blue IQ also enhances the province’s cultural identity, expertly fuses science and entrepreneurial business talent and provides the necessary resources and support to build sustainable enterprises. Nomhle Canca, CEO of Blue IQ, says, “We are the vehicle through which the province makes things happen. We are the drivers.”

With hundreds of projects already under its belt, Blue IQ has several current projects. One is a business tourism proposal called Constitution Hill, which aims to create a world-class heritage tourist attraction to boost the sector.

The Automotive Supplier Park (ASP) and Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) plan is part of the value-added manufacturing segment and zeros in on increasing global competitiveness in the industry. ASP improves efficiency of the supply chain in an industry with exacting standards of manufacturing, while AIDC offers world-class services for automotive design and testing, human resources, and research and development.

In a similar vein, the Johannesburg International Airport Industrial Development Zone is set to provide efficient import and export duty-free zones for high value-added manufactured goods.

In terms of logistics, Blue IQ includes a plan for a City Deep Transport Logistics Hub, a world-class rail and road-based inland logistics hub which will contribute to the growth of the region’s manufacturing sector. The hub would optimize the supply chain for export-focused industries while lowering input costs for Gauteng-based manufacturers.

Projects under way in the ICT sector include a 120,000 m2 Innovation Hub, set to be Africa’s first science park. Also in the sector is the Blue Catalyst, designed to promote successful commercialization of sustainable start-up technology and knowledge-based businesses in Gauteng. Blue Catalyst has a portal that matches entrepreneurs with the skills they require and a fund which encourages venture capitalists to co-invest in technological ventures in their early stages. Mr. Canca confirms, “What you will see clearly in our projects is the concept of localization through the creation of harbors that encourage the development of technology.”