The NCPC continues to advance sustainable industrial spaces in South Africa through its four flagship projects delivered in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Participation in the DEVAC SEZ and IDZ Economic Zones Summit on 3 and 4 December provided an essential opportunity for the NCPC to promote the adoption of sustainable development models in special economic zones and industrial development zones.

The summit brought together more than 250 senior representatives from government, SEZ and IDZ leadership structures, investors, industry, development finance institutions and international partners.

NCPC participates at Economic Zones Summit to further sustainable industrial spaces agenda

The National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC) continues to advance sustainable industrial spaces in South Africa through its four flagship projects delivered in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Participation in the DEVAC SEZ and IDZ Economic Zones Summit on 3 and 4 December 2025 provided an essential opportunity for the NCPC to promote the adoption of sustainable development models in special economic zones and industrial development zones.

With strong technical expertise and coordinated collaboration across multiple sectors, the NCPC plays a central role in reducing environmental impact, encouraging clean energy adoption and supporting the country’s transition toward a low-carbon economy. Providing advocacy and advisory support on relevant platforms is a critical part of this role.

The DEVAC SEZ and IDZ Economic Zones Summit brought together more than 250 senior representatives from government, SEZ and IDZ leadership structures, investors, industry, development finance institutions and international partners. It served as a strategic platform to promote Africa’s ambitions for green industrialisation, regional value chain development, and broader economic growth across industrial spaces.

The NCPC’s Strategy and Innovation Manager, Lee-Hendor Ruiters, contributed to a panel exploring how SEZs can be designed to meet future needs through connected logistics, smart city planning, and practical models of sustainable urban and industrial integration. The discussion demonstrated how well-integrated SEZs can unlock growth opportunities across sectors such as tourism, hospitality, logistics and foreign direct investment by positioning themselves within broader economic systems.

Key insights from the session included the importance of intentional integration at the design stage of any SEZ, supported by policies and legislation that are flexible and responsive to evolving requirements. Panellists noted that successful integration depends on strong coordination across all spheres of government and relies on continuous capacity building. They also emphasised that integration is a long-term process and benefits significantly from local examples of success and established best practices.

Through its contribution to the summit, the NCPC reinforced its commitment to supporting industrial spaces as they navigate the transition toward greener, more resilient and competitive operations.