Programme Director,

MEC for Gauteng Department of Rural and Agricultural Development, Ms Nandi Mayathula- Khoza

Acting HOD for Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Mr Albert Chanee

HOD for Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Thandeka Mbassa- Sigabi

Members of the GGDA and TIHMC Board

Our Strategic Partners EgoliBio Life Sciences Incubator and the dti

Group CEO of the GGDA, Mr Siphiwe Ngwenya

CEO of The Innovation Hub, Mr McLean Sibanda

Dr Sibongile Gumbi Executives from the Technology and Innovation Agency

Mr Ben Durham, Chief Director: Biotechnology and Health Innovation, the Department of Science and Technology

Representatives of academia,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentleman.

Thank you for joining us at this significant event where we host you for not only a site visit to the Gauteng BioPark phase one facility, but commemorate our late previous MEC of Gauteng Department of Economic Development Mr Nkosiphendule Kolisile who played a key role in realizing this projects. I want to thank The Innovation Hub for this initiative as we provide the strategic economic infrastructure and position Gauteng as the gateway for Biotechnology based products to the rest of Africa and the world. The Gauteng Biopark is at the fore front of our Bioeconomy agenda and it is imperative that we join hands and collaborate with the various stakeholders as we position and equip Gauteng to be an anchor for the biosciences cluster.

The Gauteng Biopark that we seeing under construction will in its phase I accommodate agro/ bio processing companies, diagnostics and devices companies as well as the Climate Innovation Centre (CIC). In its phase II it will support and host companies in the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics sectors. Phase I of the building will be ready for beneficial occupation by start-ups on 01 July 2014 and we will be back later in the year for an official launch of this exciting and important initiative.

The intention is that the launch will be hosted jointly with a program that has had significant impact in awarding and rewarding excellence in the Biotechnology sector for both Biotechnology Researchers and Industry players, that is, theBiotech Fundi Awards. During the launch of the South African Bioeconomy Strategy, the Minister of Science and Technology, Honourable Derek Hanekom stated that, “the bio-economy takes the solid base forward by promoting collaboration with players in the fields of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), environment, and the social sciences. The strategy will establish a framework for the multidisciplinary research, development and economic commercialisation that will support innovative solutions to challenges in the agriculture, health and industrial sectors. In relation to the Bioeconomy Strategy, we stand firm today that the Gauteng BioPark will serve as an important vehicle in accelerating Biotechnology commercialization and ensuring that theses enterprises contribute toward the national GDP and improve competitiveness of our province, Gauteng.

We want to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development under the leadership of Ms Nandi Mayathula-Khoza for her continued support and for providing funding for the feasibility study and business development. We also want to acknowledge our strategic partners eGoliBIO Life Sciences Incubator and the dti for the role that they have played in making sure that the construction of phase one kicks off. It is through this collaboration that we are able to contribute to the growth and improvement of the socio economic conditions of South Africa.

Thank you!

Ngiya bulela