OREANDA-NEWS. Today, the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and Sasol inaugurated the ChemCity Business Incubator (CBI) in Sasolburg that will support and promote the development of small, medium and micro-size enterprises (SMMEs).

Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies and Sasol Group Executive: Group Public Affairs, Mr Maurice Radebe opened the first building of the Sasol CBI.

The R60 million facility forms part of the dti’s national campaign to roll out 200 businesses. Sasol, contributing R41 million, will develop and manage the facilities as part of its contribution to sustain development.

Upon completion, the CBI will consist of five separate buildings on ChemCity’s 172 hectare, Eco-Industrial Park in Sasolburg. The CBI will cater for start-ups and early stage SMMEs that operate in a variety of different sectors, focusing on the chemicals, energy and related sectors as well as manufacturing, agri-business and food processing sectors.

Four of these buildings will be production units and will focus on manufacturing activities, while the fifth will house knowledge-intensive, office-based activities. The facility will occupy a total 4000 m2 and is being constructed using various alternate building technologies incubated by Sasol ChemCity.

Radebe said, “The ChemCity Business Incubator is closely aligned with our aspirations for local economic development in the Free State area. A key focus for Sasol is to always ensure that we uplift the communities we operate in.”

ChemCity is Sasol’s enterprise and supplier development vehicle that develops new BEE suppliers and supports existing BEE suppliers through business development initiatives, technology improvements and funding. In addition, ChemCity incubates start-up businesses and since 2005, has supported or established over 700 SMMEs which has created over 12 500 direct jobs.