COEGA Development Corporation (CDC)

Overview

The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is the global award-winning public entity that is wholly owned by the Eastern Cape Provincial Government in South Africa, mandated to develop and operate the 9 003 hectare Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in terms of the SEZ Act 16 of 2014. ‘Coega’, as it is commonly referred to, was established in 1999, with its headquarters located in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area in the Eastern Cape Province. It is the home of legends, including the late statesman, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. The CDC’s executive authority is the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, under the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT).

Coega’s vision is to be the leading catalyst for championing socio-economic development through providing competitive investment locations, facilitating holistic infrastructure, and value-adding commercial business solutions. Coega’s main product offering comprises: the Coega SEZ including the Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park where Volkswagen South Africa is situated and providing Tier 1 services; commercial business solutions – Coega Human Capital Solutions, Coega Corporate Travel, 3-star Vulindlela Accommodation and Conference Centre, 4-star Bluewater Bay Sunrise Hotel, Events Management Services and business consulting solutions; and project management services – infrastructure development and facilities management as implementing agent for government departments such as the Departments of Health, Basic Education, Social Development, and the National Department of Public Works, to mention a few, with a total projects portfolio of R2-billion per annum.

The Coega SEZ is specifically designed along the cluster model, linking related industries and their supply chains in close proximity to one another to maximise efficiency and minimise turnaround times. The SEZ is ISO certified in quality, health and safety, environmental, as well as Integrated ICT management systems. It is demarcated into 14 Zones focusing on key sectors: metals/metallurgical, automotive, business process outsourcing (BPO), chemicals, agro-processing and aquaculture, logistics, trade solutions, training and development, energy and maritime. The Coega SEZ is South Africa’s number one, leading prime industrial zone as well as the preferred investment destination in Africa for local and international companies seeking a transhipment hub, gateway to African and world markets. Currently, Coega has 45 operational investors, with an investment value of R11.579-billion private sector investment and R9.53-billion foreign direct investment. In line with its mandate, the CDC achieved 112 974 jobs and trained more than 100 000 people since its inception in 1999 – thus celebrating 21 years this year. The biggest investors at Coega include the R3.5-billion 342MW Dedisa Peaking Power Plant and the R11-billion BAIC – SA’s Vehicle Manufacturing Plant (SKD).

CDC is an implementing agent (IA) for government departments, utilising its expertise in infrastructure development and facilities management to provide project management and supply chain management capacity in order to fast-track the implementation of the country’s infrastructure development programme. Some of the government departments assisting in this area include the: Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Departments of Education, National Department of Public Works, Eastern Cape Department of Health and National Department of Basic Education, among others.