Province: Free State

Since 1989, the Free State economy has changed from being dependent on the primary sector to being a manufacturing, export-orientated economy. The Free State GDPR amounted to about R75 827 million in 2004, representing a 5,5% contribution to the South African economy.  Some 14% of the province's manufacturing is classified as being in high-technology industries, which is the highest percentage of all the provincial economies.  An important manufacturing industry in the province can be found in the northern Free State, which is one of the most important chemical hubs in the southern hemisphere. The province has competitive advantages in the production of certain fuels, waxes, chemicals and low cost fuel from coal