Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Leading Stories >> 16 February 2006

Potential mega projects could change economic face of the Free State

Several possible projects of mega extent have emerged lately with the potential to change the economic face of the Free State within the next three years and to upgrade it from one of the smallest to that of a thriving medium-sized provincial economy. As such the Free State could step in line with the accelerating pace of current developments in e.g. Gauteng, the Western Cape, KZN, etc. In so doing the general standard of living of residents in the province could be raised significantly.
The question is just whether the Free State does dispose of the necessary visionary leadership, political will, skills capacity and cooperative intent between government and business. All of these emerging projects are comprehensively large and to put each of them together and bring it to realization, would require capabilities of the highest order.
The projects at issue are inter alia the following :
• Establishing of a dedicated cargo airport in the Free State. A dedicated cargo airport is one specializing in cargo handling and logistics and whilst there are many such airports in the world, none exist on the African continent. SA is the obvious choice in this regard and to this end the Free State, especially the northern part, is geographically excellently situated. It would appear that a dedicated cargo airport and its socio-economic spin-off is the one single project that can move the Free State economy up to a new level like none other.
• Developing the bio-fuels industry in the Free State. With the move nationally as well as internationally towards environmentally cleaner fuels, the Free State with its strong crop production is again well-positioned to capitalize. This applies to the commercial as well as emerging farming sectors and could do much to alleviate unemployment and poverty in rural areas.
• Stringing together in an imaginative way various strong multiple tourism products in the central part of SA and market them synergistically. Such products include especially the Eastern Free State highlands, the KZN bergland, Lesotho and the tri-provincial Lake Gariep tourism initiative. Other tourism products and routes can club in and the spin-offs could indeed be far-reaching.
• Maximizing the declaration of the Vredefort Dome Area as a World Heritage Site. This area, comprising some 144 000 ha in both the Free State and North West, has all the attributes to become a prime global tourist destination, specializing in adventure tourism. The two provinces have already sent up a joint governing structure to develop the Dome Area according international standards.
• Building on the various national championships won by Free State rugby, cricket and soccer during 2005 / 06 to establish the heartland of SA as a sports stronghold and mecca.
• Tie to this is all the potential to fully utilize the allocation of Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein as one of the venues for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. In this instance an integrated provincial task-team is taking shape to make the most of the expected influx of thousands of foreign visitors to Bloemfontein and Free State.
• A last major project to be mentioned here as one presently on the cards with the potential of making a considerable impact on the Free State economy, is the possible development of the Free State as a transport and logistical hub in national context. This does not necessarily imply a dedicated cargo airport, but is about utilizing the national road and rail links through the Free State as the most central province and developing warehousing facilities in some of the main centres in the province. In this connection planning regarding Harrismith is setting the trend and evidently this example can be followed elsewhere.
The conclusion from these facts and their potential is that the Free State could be on the verge of an economic take-off. However, ultimately, the deciding factor rests in the political arena.
Be as it may, the climate is favourable and the 2006 state of the province address by the Premier set a good tone, while the national budget delivered by the Finance Minister obviously enhanced the climate further. In light of this one or more of the mentioned projects could supply the necessary spark.