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IDC ADVERTORIAL • J UNE 2015
IDC empowers agro-industries
in the Free State
IDC is a state-owned,
s e l f - f i nanc i ng ,
Development Finance Insti-
tution (DFI). It was esta-
blished in 1940 to promote
economic growth and industrial
development in South Africa.
It operates in a broad spectrum
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to a wide variety of individuals
and companies within all nine
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nancial assistance for the
development of new projects
and businesses, as well as
expansions or rehabilitation of
existing projects. Projects must
exhibit economicmerit by being
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contribution from applicants
and R1 million is the minimum
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and sureties also required.
IDC’s regional focus in the
Free State is mainly on agro-
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processing. In addition, IDC
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and renewable energy, as well
as select manufacturing sectors
and niche tourism. The IDC
has investments totaling the
sum of R700 million in the
Free State - 52% of this sum is in
agro-processing, 39% in mining
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in the chemicals sector, and
1% in tourism. The remaining
investments are in metals,
textiles, andwood and paper.
Current agricultural and
agro-processing projects in
the Free State include field
crop processing industry,
such as soya, oil seeds, maize
and wheat, and animal
feeds; meat processing
value chain, for poultry
and red meat; horticultural
industries (fruit, nuts, wine
grapes); and high value food
additives, flavouring, and
nutraceuticals as secondary
products.
Due to livestock farming
being prevalent in certain areas,
leather tanning and processing
holds promise, while alternative
energy solutions (bio fuels, bio
gas, PV solar, waste recycling,
etc.), being very high on the
government’s priority list, is
actively pursued.
IDC has invested in an
apple orchard, a cherry estate,
a walnut farm, and groundnuts.
In all cases, value is added by
way of packing or processing
of product. IDC also invested
in a large integrated meat
processing facility and other
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and confectionary. In terms of
primary agriculture, IDC does
not competewith theLandBank
but focuses on horticulture
(high value crops such as fruits,
berries, nuts) rather than cash
crops. IDC may however,
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primary agriculture.
Notably livestock is not
funded, although IDC will
consider an integrated project,
e.g. a feedlot, abattoir and
packaging facility.
Manufacturing holds
promise if raw materials can
be sourced from within the
region or if niche markets can be
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this sector are manufacturing
of jewellery, plastic recycling
and manufacturing of farm
equipment as well as tanning
and leather goods.
For the next few years,
the regional priorities of the
IDC in the Free State will be
to support the government’s
National Development Plan,
the Industrial PolicyActionPlan
and the Growth Path. These
plans are focused on identifying
potential projects in key sectors
such as agro-industries and the
alternative energy sector (bio
fuels, bio gas and solar).
Contact information
IDC Free State regional office will definitely want to become your partner and
therefore you need to contact Stoffel Meyer at Bloemfontein (051) 411-1450 or on
, for more information.
/10000989SM/R