Public hearings on the government plans to turn industrial development zones into special economic zones will held in the Eastern Cape next week.
The Department of Trade and Industry rolls into East London on Monday to get public input on the Special Economic Zones Bill.
DTI says the Bill is aimed at broadening the scope and composition of dedicated industrial areas, like the Coega and East London Industrial Development Zones, as well as to support industrial decentralisation.
“The public hearings are part of the process aimed at soliciting comments from members of the public on the draft Bill and policy. All citizens, stakeholders, interested parties, structures, institutions and organisations have until 22 March 2012 to express an opinion, proposals or recommendations on the Bill. the dti is looking forward to valuable feedback on the Bill as we believe that the public consultations will add value and enrich the bill before it becomes law,” said the Director-General, Lionel October.
“The Bill supports the acceleration of industrial development and creation of a regionally diverse industrial economy through the creation of new industrial hubs in underdeveloped regions of the country,” said October.