Bay export zone plan unveiled

ASOCIO-ECONOMIC concept aimed at throwing a lifeline to thousands of unemployed people in Nelson Mandela Bay and growing South Africa’s stagnating economy through exports, received a mixed reaction at its unveiling at the Eastcape Training Centre in Port Elizabeth last night.

The Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE), a leading think tank and policy advocacy group, revealed its Export Processing Zone (EPZ) concept to an audience of business leaders, politicians, academics and other interested parties at the lively, well-attended event.

The proposal forms part of CDE’s Growth Agenda series, which attempts to address the need for mass employment, economic equality and inclusion in the country.

While various types of economic zones already exist in the country, the EPZ proposal tackles what is widely accepted as one of the biggest inhibitors to doing business in South Africa – labour costs.

The concept, as presented by CDE economics expert David Kaplan, would see the establishment of an economic zone which would give businesses import and export incentives.