The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) is a legally registered entity with the responsibility of encouraging international export competitiveness through tax and duty-free incentives, provision of a world-class infrastructure and competitive input costs.  The RBIDZ was incorporated in April 2002 as an autonomous entity intended to advance the developments and the operation of the Richards Bay. It is situated in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, within the City of uMhlathuze Municipality. The RBIDZ is jointly owned by the Province of KZN through Ithala Development Finance Corporation Limited (Ithala) and the City of uMhlathuze. The Zone is a brownfield development neighbouring an already existing industrial area comprising a total of 345 hectares of land, with future potential of more than 1000 hectares.

 

Like all other Free Trade Zones, Export Processing Zones, Special Economic Zones or Industrial Development Zones all over the world, the RBIDZ strategy is to cluster smaller, downstream manufacturing businesses around the existing major industries already based in the City, as well as attracting other small-medium industrial operations. The RBIDZ seeks to provide significant contribution to the country’s economic growth through creation of employment opportunities, upgrading the skills, technology transfer, deepening economic empowerment of Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDIs), and broadening of South Africa’s basket of export products.