The Atlantis Special Economic Zone Company (ASEZCo) has awarded its first tender for civils construction.
Now that the construction of zone 1 has the go-ahead, the company believes local SMMEs have the opportunity to shine.
Civil works of phase 2 of the Kanonkop GAP housing development will also soon start.
Matt Cullinan, ASEZCo acting CEO, described the tender award as a milestone in the development of the Atlantis Special Economic Zone.
“Together with our partners and community stakeholders we have worked hard to get to this point. We now move into the phase of building the civils infrastructure of the ASEZ thanks to the impending services of the appointed contractor. Building the civils infrastructure will create jobs and create opportunities for SMMEs.”
According to Cullinan, this lays the basis for building factories, more jobs and growing the economy.
He said the tender was awarded to WCB Construction because it had become one of the leading black youth-owned emerging construction firms in the Western Cape.
“As one of the fastest growing, black youth owned civils contractors in the country we are extremely excited to have been awarded the civils construction of zone 1 of the Atlantis SEZ,” Clayton West, WCB Managing Director, explained.
ASEZCo believes the project will not only give rise to extensive growth of the company, but also the local community.
It will give local contractors the opportunity to enhance their skills.
Upskilling local SMMEs will increase their eligibility to move forward and tender for even more large-scale projects, effectively leading to the growth of reputable, sustainable contractors in Atlantis, with a key focus on continuity of job creation to service all players in the area – service providers and beneficiaries.
Said West: “The construction industry does not come without challenges, but in a brief introductory meeting with the stakeholders of Atlantis SEZ the consultants and other relevant parties key to the project’s success we are confident as a team and community the goals set out will be achieved, and we look forward to handing a project over that exceeds the expectations of our client and the local community.”
