KZN Techno Hub Edges Closer To Completion
The KZN Techno Hub is expected to boost investor confidence in the province.
The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Provincial Government will use the Port Shepstone Techno Hub as an engine for job creation and tech skills that will benefit other sectors in KZN's South Coast region.
The state government said in a statement that the first phase of construction on 20 hectares of land, which is nearing completion, is expected to attract the new digital workforce beyond its investment potential.
This is a move to replace the Western Cape as SA's "tech hub", as KZN becomes a technology powerhouse.
The Port Shepstone Technology Centre, run by the state government in partnership with Ray Nkonini Council, is the first of four centers designed to boost the region's economy by providing a co-working space for investors and entrepreneurs.
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Plesa Mangu, CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprises, the official tourism body of KZN South Coast, describes the Port of Shepstone Techno Hub as a development investment for the fourth industrial revolution.
“We are proud that KZN South Coast has been chosen as one of the key locations for the development of a technology hub: the investment in the development will undoubtedly benefit young people.
“This will bring significant investment potential to KZN South Coast and attract a new digital workforce ready to explore, experiment and experiment with new ideas that can benefit the region and the country. As the commercial and administrative hub of KZN South Coast, people and organizations will now have even more reason to consider settling here."
According to Mangcu, the four centers will be part of KZN's Eastern Cape and East Coast Development Initiative, which aims to unlock the region's economic potential.
The technology center area consists of five land use zones, including light industrial/commercial areas, technology center/hotel/convention center, mixed commercial areas and mixed residential areas.
The first phase of the project involves the completion of the fencing and administration building, including three training rooms and meeting rooms.
According to Mangcu, the location has attracted the interest of many investors, with the land attracting the attention of investors such as the Radisson Hotel Group - an American multinational hotel corporation - which has already committed to the downtown.
In addition to investment potential, the Port Shepstone Techno Hub provides valuable insights for use in other industries including manufacturing, renewable energy, logistics and agribusiness.
“It's not just about creating jobs, it's about creating a space for entrepreneurial thinkers to come together and collaborate on creative ideas and projects,” Mangu added.
"The Port Shepstone Techno Hub has the potential to drive socio-economic development, increase competitiveness and empower the region in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution."
