Bigen Africa finds a new home

pretoria - one of south africa's biggest companies, engineering company, bigen africa, today announced the relocation of its head office to a new building at the innovation hub in pretoria.

the bigen africa group, rated as one of the top 500 best-managed companies in south africa, provides innovative engineering, management and project finance solutions to private and public sector clients.

the hub, its new home, is a project of the gauteng provincial government's blue iq initiative to invest in economic development in the province.

blue iq, a multi-billion rand economic development initiative is aimed at boosting the province's growth rate and thereby ensuring increased employment.

the relocation announcement was made by bigen africa chief executive officer, francois swart at the signing of the property owners association rules and regulations at the innovation hub.

construction has already started on the 6 560 square metre land parcel taken up by the developer, who property developments.

bigen africa is expected to move into its new building in 2007.

the new building will house around 250 staff, and is the second commercial building at the innovation hub. it is situated adjacent to the sappi technology centre.

according to mr swart, the company's steady growth over the past decade and expected future growth necessitated a new location for its head office.

"the innovation hub presented itself as the ideal location, as we are not merely relocating, we are moving into the future."

"our innovative approach to engineering makes us a suitable player in the melting pot of creative thought and innovative endeavour found at the innovation hub."

mr swart also sad the decision was in line with its contribution to the accelerated and shared growth initiative of sa (asgisa). the initiative is aimed at identifying skills that are critical to achieving a six percent economic growth rate by 2014.

asgisa identified six factors that constrain growth in the country and skills shortage was one of the key focus areas that needed urgent attention.

"our services are aimed at addressing poverty and underdevelopment and assist in strengthening the system of local government."

"our mission is also about creating job opportunities and creating a lot of infrastructure," mr swart said.

innovation hub ceo, dr neville comins, added that the presence of a significant and well- respected engineering activity would strengthen the technology mix at the hub, to the benefit of all the residents.

"we look forward to growing interactions between our resident companies, a trend that is already bearing fruit in terms of the emerging innovative business projects and services."

bigen africa has been involved in a number of projects throughout the country and in neighbouring countries which include the construction of roads and dams.