PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Attention
31 August 2022
Port Shepstone is fast becoming an economic hub with unlimited investment opportunities
Located just an hour-and-a-half south of Durban, the once small seaside town of Port Shepstone is fast being established as an economic hub on the KZN South Coast. And those looking for key investment opportunities won’t be disappointed by this thriving oceanside economy.
“Port Shepstone has always been a popular tourism destination, but the past few years have seen the town developing into a strategic economic and cultural hub, boasting a wide variety of investment opportunities across all sectors,” explained Phelisa Mangcu, CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE). “Our role is to connect potential investors with the many opportunities found here, while facilitating all processes to make doing business on the KZN South Coast as inviting as possible.”
As the official economic development arm of the region, SCTIE was formed when two entities, Ugu South Coast Tourism (USCT) and Ugu South Coast Development Agency (USCDA), amalgamated this year. This unity was able to bring together a vast amount of experience and resources, with the team proactively identifying and unlocking the area’s full potential.
SCTIE has also partnered with Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) to establish a One Stop Shop office in the KZN South Coast. This aims to improve the efficiency of doing business and ensuring investors have access to municipal incentives in the district.
Situated between the vibrant coastal towns of Hibberdene and Margate, Port Shepstone has emerged as the area’s the administrative, educational, distribution and commercial centre. As such, the area has key business-driving services including the major banks, government departments and South African Revenue Service (SARS) offices. Port Shepstone is also the seat for both Ray Nkonyeni and Ugu District municipalities, with many businesses using the town as a base for their head offices.
When it comes to events, from business conferences through to sports, Port Shepstone is considered a prime destination. The area offers a wide variety of accommodation, conferencing and banqueting venues, as well as quality dining options. Its seaside proximity and many iconic tourism sites continue to establish this as a MICE destination.
The area has a year-round subtropical climate and nutrient-rich soil which create the perfect conditions for agriculture – a fact which is made evident by the surrounding farmlands. The women-owned BBS Farm is a great example of the agricultural and agritourism opportunities in Port Shepstone and surrounds. The tomatoes and macadamias grown here are internationally sourced, with BBS Farm forming one of the stops on the popular Agri-CULTURE Tours offering.
The area’s manufacturing potential remains abundant, with the textile industry in Marburg and successful furniture manufacturing in the region are good indicators of what is to come with the right vision and investment. And with Port Shepstone situated on the N2 with easy accessibility to King Shaka International Airport and Durban Harbour, the potential for a thriving logistics industry is waiting to be untapped. The location of the KZN South Coast means it’s also a gateway to the Eastern Cape connecting the economies of these regions.
The ocean economy adjacent to Port Shepstone also boasts a number of investment opportunities, from the established tourism economy through to renewable energy production, sustainable fisheries and even maritime transport.
And considering the growing trend of coastal estates as primary residential options, Port Shepstone is a valuable real estate asset. Recent reports indicate that the KZN South Coast is becoming more in demand as people consider ‘semigration’ living, whereby they retain jobs inland and work remotely from the coast. Considering the cost-effectiveness of KZN South Coast properties compared with other coastal regions, alongside the attractive lifestyle and climate, the demand is only set to grow. Opportunities abound in terms of estate living, resorts, retail and educational offerings with ample undeveloped municipal land which is just primed for investors.
“Port Shepstone is really the gateway to the KZN South Coast, and is just primed for great investment opportunities,” continued Mangu. “It’s really just a matter of who gets in first. We’re ready to assist investors, both locally and internationally, who are looking for a low-risk opportunity that promises massive return on investment.”
To find out more about the KZN South Coast’s many investment opportunities, contact 039 682 7944, email info@sctie.co.za or visit www.investkznsouthcoast.co.za.
To access previous SCTIE press releases, visit: https://www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za/category/press-release/.
/ENDS
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Port Shepstone Country Club.
About KZN South Coast
Known as the ‘Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom’, the KZN South Coast stretches 120 kilometres from Scottburgh to Port Edward and inland to Harding. Here, the spirit of adventure can be discovered among the many cultural experiences, as well as the 35 nature trails and 58 beaches, ideal for activities like river rafting, abseiling, suspension bridges, paintball, surfing, SUP, canoeing, beach horse rides, shark cage diving and free diving. Nicknamed ‘The Golf Coast’, there are 11 golf courses on the KZN South Coast ranging in difficulty, with endless hiking, mountain biking and 4×4 trails for more rugged excursions. Promoting sustainability, the KZN South Coast has a growing agri-tourism sector that offers world-class produce and hosts tours and excursions. The region boasts a number of permanently managed Blue Flag beaches, and is home to some of the world’s top diving sites, Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. The originality continues with the annual Sardine Run, coined the #GreatestShoalonEarth, which is the largest biomass migration on earth and a marvel to witness. The region’s many nature reserves are inhabited by indigenous bird and wildlife, and it holds the title for ‘smallest desert on earth’, The Red Desert in Port Edward. The KZN South Coast is a fast-emerging MICE destination which also plays host to a number of high-profile events including the The Bike Fest, Uvukile Gospel Festival, Ugu Jazz, Ugu Film Festival and the South Coast Fever MTB & Trail Run Series.
Issued on behalf of:
South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE)
Disseminated by:
Olivia Jones Communications
For more information please contact:
Olivia Jones Communications
Cell: 083 653 1720
Email: media@oliviajones.co.za
