Eastern Cape Premier, Hon. Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane – MPL, has commended as ‘’bold and a game-changer’’ the decision by pharmaceuticals manufacturer ASPEN to relocate its European-based production line of general anaesthetics to its world-class manufacturing plant in Gqebhera, here in the Eastern Cape Province.
Premier Mabuyane has conveyed his appreciation for the confidence in the Eastern Cape Province as well as South Africa, ASPEN, has expressed with the added investment, effectively creating the southern hemisphere’s largest manufacturing operation of general anaesthetics.
‘’This signals to us that indeed the manufacturing and production capacity of the Eastern Cape, coupled with steady transfer of these specialized skills to our people, over time we will surely realise our objective of being South Africa’s leading manufacturing and innovation hub through the development of new technologies here in our province’’, said the Premier
‘’We wish ASPEN all the best, as they become increasingly a key partner in our quest to develop further both the human capital through the fostering of job creation and skills transfer, as well investing in the infrastructure of our province. Through effecting enablers for private investment to take up all that is positive the ‘Home of Legends’ has to offer, despite the difficulties of almost two years now – due to the pandemic – these signals of confidence say that our message to investors that the Eastern Cape is open for business has resonated,’’ added Premier Mabuyane.
‘’It is our hope that as we strive to balance service delivery in our metros, local and district municipalities, in relation to demand for services including much needed jobs, that the work of Small Town Revitalisation (STR) in our rural towns will eventually begin to have the desired knock-on effect, of attracting business to locate themselves across our province where our people are located. The Eastern Cape needs infrastructure-investment through private capital investment in the provincial economy to generate jobs and to retain our skills base and not forfeit it to the competitor provinces of Gauteng and the Western Cape’’, said the Premier.
END.
ISSUED BY: PROVINCIAL COMMUNICATION SERVICE – EASTERN CAPE
ENQUIRIES: MXOLISI SPONDO
ACTING GENERAL MANAGER: PROVINCIAL
COMMUNICATION SERVICE / SPOKESPERSON TO PREMIER
& GOVERNMENT
071 671 6663 / 076 267 4089
Mxolisi.spondo@ecotp.gov.za
SONWABO MBANANGA
DIRECTOR: MEDIA RELATIONS & MEDIA PRODUCTIONS
082 045 3963
Sonwabo.mbananga@ecotpgov.za / Mbanangass@gmail.com
