The chief director of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Economic Transformation at the dti, Alfred Tau said the revitalisation of industrial parks was about transforming the lives of the people in various provinces and regions.

"The ultimate objective is to create wealth, eradicate poverty and make sure that job opportunities are available so that people can get employment," Tau said.

Tau was speaking on Thursday in Polokwane at the opening of the revitalised Seshego Industrial Park which has been given a cash injection of R21 million.

The opening of the Seshego Industrial Park was part of the roadshow undertaken by the dti with the aim of promoting and creating awareness on the value of the SEZs to provincial and local authorities, and to potential investors.

Representatives of provincial and local government, as well as business chambers and state-owned entities attended the opening.

DTI minister, Dr Rob Davies, was set to officially open the industrial park.

The dti said it expected about 21,000 jobs to be created in the 62 hectare industrial park, with a focus on manufacturing.

Tau said for the objectives of the SEZ Programme to be achieved, the country needed to be able to produce goods that could be consumed domestically, as well as be exported to other countries.

"The Industrial Revitalisation Programme is one of the tools that government is employing in order to grow our economy through industrialisation," Tau said.

"The programme will accelerate industrialisation, development and growth, attract foreign and domestic direct investment, grow and diversify value-added exports, and accelerate job creation."

ANA