The development is a partnership between the council and the trade and industry department, and it will be completed in the next eight years.

Mayor Smangaliso Mkhatshwa yesterday said the project would yield a turnover of more than R1,8bn a year for the province when fully operational.

'It is estimated that 9000 jobs will be created and financial experts estimate the local geographic domestic product to increase by more than R336m and over R5m in local levies,' he said.

Project consultant Peter Aborn said the project was a private-public sector partnership and would be run on a concession basis over a period of 25 years.

Aborn said the process was now in a prequalification stage, which would be wrapped up by the end of next month. 'We will pick a preferred bidder by midJanuary and complete the whole process by next April,' he said.

The trade and industry department would relocate to the precinct, as would its agencies like Khula, Ntsika and the SA Bureau of Standards. Other services would include retail, conference exhibition and corporate head offices.