Creating A World-Class Gateway To Glob Al Markets
Aerotropolis an urban development concept in which the region’s layout, infrastructure and economy has an airport at its core.
In principle, it resembles a traditional metropolis with its central city area and commuter links to a variety of suburban developments. The key difference of the Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis compared with a metropolis, is its dynamic links to global markets. Ekurhuleni is the major hub that connects South Africa to the world serving as a key point of connectivity and industry for the country and continent.
The concept is central to modern urban planning and has delivered considerable economic and social benefits to airport investors, associated businesses and communities in Europe and North America. The lessons learnt there are extremely valuable and are being used to shape the development of the Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis.
The Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis will stimulate the region by generating an environment conducive to growing existing development and investment, as well as creating numerous new investment opportunities for a wide range of investors. The Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis project encompasses O.R. Tambo International Airport as well as the proposed Gauteng Industrial Development Zone (GIDZ).
The GIDZ is a Gauteng Provincial Government initiative to develop a purpose-built industrial estate linked to O.R. Tambo International Airport that promotes fixed direct investments in value-added and export-oriented manufacturing industries. The GIDZ’s strategic intent is to contribute to economic development by exploiting the Zone’s competitive location to attract local and international investment in the manufacturing industry. GIDZ aims to be a leading Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) that facilitates and promotes inclusive and competitive economic growth and development. This will be effected through focused support for targeted sectors to strategically position Gauteng as a global city region.
The Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis aims to be a showcase for Gauteng and South Africa as a viable and compelling place in which to invest, live, build a business and thrive. It will achieve this by capitalising on the area’s strengths, including production and movement of goods, agribusinesses, food production, aerospace manufacturing, tourism and the most dynamic asset.
The attractive environment for business created by the Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis project could result in an estimated 581 000 new jobs.
The O.R. Tambo International Airport itself is constantly being upgraded to meet the growing demand for air transport. Significant investments are being planned to take advantage of increased freight movement demands. Likewise, the airport surroundings would be developed with efficient road networks, hotels, retail and office clusters to complement the exceptionally positive first impression of the airport.
