This is according to the Free State premier, Sisi Ntombela, who told OFM News how important a hub will be to the people living in the province. She says work has started already, where the purpose is to create more jobs and strengthen the provincial economy. 

According to Ntombela, in the areas like Cornelia, at least 100 families have received a live cow by Chinese investors. She explains the families will ensure that when those cows are grown, they take them to an abattoir which will then package and export the meat to other countries.

She also reiterated that in Orangeville, more fruit trees are going to be planted with the purpose of selling fruit that will also be exported. She added by so doing, more people in the province are going to be employed and poverty will be alleviated. She also says about 36 bigger companies have asked for sites in the SEZ to open businesses there.

Ntombela says the full responsibility in this hub will be in the hands of Destea, led by MEC Makalo Mohale, who'll be making sure that the provincial economy grows. The premier concludes that by 27 July there'll be a visit to South Korea in order to sign various memorandums regarding applications at the SEZ.

OFM News