COEGA CREATES 120 000 JOBS

The Coega
Development Corporation (CDC) on Thursday announced that it had created more
than 120 000 jobs through its programmes across the country.

CDC’s
Head of Marketing, Brand and Communications, Dr Ayanda Vilakazi said Coega
continues to serve as the leading pioneer for socio-economic development
through ground-breaking efforts that ensure standards of sustainable growth are
met.

As the
CDC celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, a total of 120 990 jobs have
been created through the Coega project since establishment in 1999.

“Many
indigenous people of the Eastern Cape have felt the impact. We have also
provided training to more than 100 000 people, most of whom are women and
youth,” Vilakazi said.

Projects
within the CDC have facilitated economic growth through job creation,
particularly for the youth of this region.

“By
year-end 2019/20, the CDC is projecting an increase in the number of
operational investors in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at 50, making
Coega the most successful and leading SEZ in Africa,” Vilakazi said.

With 45
operational investors/tenants in the Coega SEZ, the SEZ remains the top
achiever in South Africa, having achieved R9.53 Billion in Foreign Direct
Investment.

“The top
investors with the highest number of operational jobs created since
establishment include, amongst others, Dynamics Commodities (858 jobs),
Discovery (1148 jobs), WNS (592 jobs) and Coega Dairy (305 jobs).

Ikhono
construction site general worker Lawrence Dylon said he valued the skills he
obtained during his employment on the project.

“It does
not only limit me here, but also allows me to have access to other
opportunities outside of Coega,” Dylon said.

General
worker Sarah Baartman said the job opportunity has helped her to provide for
her family.