Atlantis SEZ – A Green Economy in Motion
Infrastructure complete.
Investment-ready.
Future-focused.
The Atlantis Special Economic Zone is officially open for business. With world-class infrastructure now complete and the first factory development underway, the ASEZ is delivering on its vision of being the pioneering place where Africa’s green economy thrives.
Located just outside Cape Town, the zone offers a strategic base for investors seeking sustainable industrial growth. But it’s more than a site – it’s a catalyst for inclusive development. With a strong commitment to local skills development, SMME inclusion and community integration, the ASEZ is shaping a new kind of economy – one that values people, planet and progress equally.
This is where innovation meets opportunity – and where a low-carbon future is being built today.
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TOWARDS A GREENER, more inclusive industrial future
ASEZ CASE STUDY
The Atlantis Special Economic Zone for Green Technologies (ASEZ) is targeting the goal of becoming Africa’s leading sustainable industrial precinct – one project at a time.
The Atlantis Special Economic Zone for Green Technologies (ASEZ) is targeting investors who will contribute to a low carbon, resource-efficient and inclusive future. Situated on a 94ha site on Cape Town’s West Coast, the ASEZ is being developed as Africa’s leading sustainable industrial precinct – and is now embarking on a major milestone: Green Star Sustainable Precinct (SUP) certification through Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA). The ASEZ has five sustainability focus areas: social inclusion; decarbonisation; a positive water balance; resource optimisation; and working with nature.
As this ambitious zone explores what the future of sustainable and green manufacturing will look like, it hasn’t come without its challenges, namely, having to navigate this with limited fiscal resources. The zone has adopted an incremental approach to development and achieving its objectives. This is perhaps the biggest challenge – reaching sustainable objectives one project at a time. From an economies-of-scale perspective, it is not necessarily ideal, but certainly realistic. This does allow the roll-out of initiatives within the commercial constraints of the investment. It is the foothold the zone needs to move the needle forward on sustainability.
“We don’t believe sustainability should be postponed until all the stars align,” says ASEZ CEO Matt Cullinan. “Our model is to embed green thinking from the start – even if that means starting small. Each project is an opportunity to live our values and demonstrate what a sustainable precinct can look like in action.”
The ASEZ subscribes to the “living lab” philosophy, which intentionally brings together knowledge partners, the public sector, private sector, investors and local communities. This multi-faceted, collaborative approach defines the work of the zone and amplifies its impact – ensuring that innovation is tested and refined in real-time, within a real place, by real people. In line with this, the zone has initiated the process of on-boarding an Accredited Professional (AP) to support its registration as a Green Star Sustainable Precinct (SUP) with GBCSA. This is a natural extension of ASEZ’s sustainability journey and reflects the alignment between GBCSA’s mission and the values that drive the zone.
This approach – equal parts visionary and grounded – has already positioned the ASEZ as a leader on the continent. In 2024 alone, the ASEZ was honoured with multiple awards, including: African Sustainable Zone of the Year and Industrial Zone of the Year at the Financial Times fDi Intelligence Awards; the Climate Change Award at the Eco-Logic Awards; and Recognition for Sustainable Finance by The Mail & Guardian.
These accolades affirm the zone’s impact to date and serve as motivation to keep advancing – one project, one partnership and one innovation at a time – towards a greener, more inclusive industrial future. As the ASEZ continues to evolve, its commitment to sustainability remains unwavering. By aligning bold ambitions with practical steps and strong partnerships, the zone is not only reimagining what green industrial development can look like – it is proving that it’s possible here and now, one project at a time.
