​Gauteng news 
Efforts towards transforming, modernising and reindustrialising Sedibeng District's economy is in full swing.
The Sedibeng region was a historic cluster of steel related industries underpinned by the strong steel mining and export sector until the sector experienced a marked decline.
These industries have not been replaced by new business or industrial activity resulting in a decaying region, that offers few opportunities for business and communities to sustain themselves.
To revive this region, the Gauteng Provincial Government on Friday, hosted the Sedibeng Investment Conference to boost investor confidence and drum up investment in the Southern Development Corridor.
Bringing together various stakeholders, including government, developers, investors, industrialists, and farmers, the summit deliberated on development initiatives and identify shovel-ready projects that will catalyse the rebuilding the Southern Development Corridor of the Vaal River City SEZ.
The Southern Development Corridor includes to the Sedibeng District, which comprises of Emfuleni, Lesedi and Midvaal Local Municipalities.
The region boasts a strong manufacturing sector, as well as a growing services sector with a huge untapped potential to grow agricultural and related industries.
Speaking at the summit, Premier David Makhura said the three spheres of government are working together to provide a platform to solidify plans that have been developed and investments made in the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the Vaal region.
"The Vaal Special Economic Zones (SEZ) which will include the construction of a new Vaal River City is ready to start in earnest," Gauteng Premier David Makhura said.
"The first phase of the Vaal SEZ projects in the townships will focus on the Heidelberg Industrial Park and the auto and digital hubs in Sebokeng.
"The second phase will focus on the Leeuwkuil, Cyferpan and Meyerton Industrial Hubs and the third phase will focus on industrial parks development with the context of implementing the Master Plan over a 20-year period," Makhura said.
This will unlock private sector investment, particularly in high growth sectors such as agro-processing, agri-business, food and beverage, cannabis farming, renewable energy, transport and logistics, and tourism and hospitality.