GC Special Economic Zones development at advanced stage
Development of the two prime land areas that government has set aside in Gaborone city to be used as Special Economic Zones ( SEZ) in order to lure investors and create employment is at an advanced stage.
City Mayor Thata Father Maphongo said at the opening of the ongoing first full council for the financial year 2021/ 22, that as part of the economic transformation agenda, the Government enacted the SEZA Act in 2015 as the founding legal framework to establish the first eight ( 8) Special Economic Zones ( SEZ) across the country.
Among others, the zones would reinforce efforts by other Government agencies to facilitate ease of doing business in the country through provision of high grade serviced land, accelerated business set- up processes and a basket of attractive fiscal incentives.
Two of the zones are located in Gaborone - Sir Seretse Khama International Airport Special Economic Zone ( SSKIA- SEZ or Airport City), which is a mixed zone focusing on the pharmaceutical industries and aerospace. The other one is Gaborone Fairgrounds Special Economic Zone which will specialise on the Financial and Technological sectors ( FINTECH).
He said the master planning of the SSKIA SEZ was completed in 2018, and went through the normal processes and structures within the Gaborone City Council.
Land servicing for the first phase of the site is in progress and currently sitting at around 87 percent completion status. It is anticipated to be completed by August 2021. According to Maphongo, this development will yield commercial and industrial plots in an area which covers about 100 hectares for investors who wish to develop export- focused industries.
The site would be ready to take up investments from the third quarter of this financial year and is a joint development with the Civil Aviation Authority Botswana ( CAAB).
As regards to Gaborone Fairgrounds, the SEZ is sitting on a live and functional area. It was also subjected to the master planning process to ensure business clusters and developments are properly aligned and coordinated using the SEZ model.
The Master plan was approved in April 2021, and the revised layout is being cadastral surveyed for registration with the Department of Surveys.
The Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA) is at public review stage and is expected to be approved by the Department of Environmental Affairs during the second quarter of this financial year.
The next phase will involve upgrading of the infrastructural backbone of the area including provision of new roads, widening of some existing roads, introduction of walkways, street lighting, re- alignment of underground services to enhance area aesthetics and business efficiency.
Maphongo revealed that the key players within the Fairgrounds SEZ including Fairground Holdings, Botswana Accountancy College ( BAC), Botswana Open University and other private land owners have been inducted on the SEZ programme and its benefits, and have started to re- align their developments to the master plan.