The East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) is contributing to South Africa’s agro-industrialisation by supporting Agroprocessing investors linked to primary agriculture beyond the zone.
Located in the fertile eastern region of the Eastern Cape, the Agri-Industry sector at the ELIDZ integrates primary agriculture, processing, and technological innovation to unlock value across most parts of the agri-value chain — from field to factory to local and export markets.
This sector bridges the gap between traditional farming and advanced processing, creating sustainable opportunities for food security, balancing imports, and export diversification. Through its agro-processing infrastructure, innovation partnerships, and inclusive participation, the ELIDZ supports a spectrum from innovators, emerging enterprises to large-scale investors.
The focus areas include food and beverage manufacturing, fibre processing, medical cannabis and hemp, poultry and red meat production and phytomedicinal products, positioning the zone as a gateway for agro-industrial expansion into African and global markets.
SECTOR COMPOSITION
The ELIDZ Agri-Industry cluster supports a wide spectrum of investment activities, including:
- Food and beverage manufacturing
- Textile manufacturing based on animal and plant fibre
- Medical cannabis and hemp cultivation and processing
- Poultry, red meat, and dairy processing
- Indigenous phytomedicinal products
- Packaging and cold-chain logistics
The cluster attracts diverse investor profiles from established manufacturers seeking expansion, to SMEs and startups leveraging incubation and research collaboration through the STP.
Why Invest in ELIDZ Agri Industries?
Value Proposition
The ELIDZ offers a sustainable, innovation enabled agri-industrial ecosystem that converts the Eastern Cape’s agricultural strengths into high-value, globally competitive products.
Investors benefit from a purpose-built, export-oriented, and technology-integrated platform that enables cost-efficient production, R&D collaboration, and sustainable growth.
By combining processing excellence, digital integration, and world-class logistics, the ELIDZ positions agro-industrial investors to scale efficiently while contributing to inclusive, climate-resilient development.
Competitive Advantages
