Eastern Cape Business 2024

The 2024 edition of Eastern Cape Business is the 17th edition of this successful publication that, since its launch in 2006, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Eastern Cape. The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) is supporting this issue of the journal, both in providing up-to-date information for editorial use and in sharing information about its activities. It will also distribute the journal through its regular channels. While the Eastern Cape has deservedly earned the title of South Africa’s wind energy province, there are other developments taking place in East London, the Coega SEZ and near Humansdorp that promise to give new meaning to new energy. Vanadium batteries, green ammonia and green hydrogen are among the aspects that form part of the Special Feature on energy that appears in this journal. The centenary of the massively important automotive industry is celebrated with reference to Ford Motor Company’s start in the “Auto City” of Port Elizabeth, as it was known, in 1924. The province’s two Special Economic Zones are attracting investors and exports are on an upward trajectory, which will be helped by upgrades of the Eastern Cape’s three ports. Overviews are provided on the other key economic sectors of the province and the potential of the oceans economy and the prospects of oil and gas for this coastal province are examined. The major business chambers in the province have made contributions to the journal and the newest chamber, the Maritime Business Chamber, which has its headquarters a short distance up the hill from the Port of Gqeberha, makes its second appearance in the journal.

A Renewable Energy

A Renewable Energy Cluster has been established by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. next two years. The High Court ruled in our favour and we were able to contain tariff increases to 15.1% for municipalities across the country. We have established a Local Economy Revival Think Tank which has seven workstreams, with a key focus on unlocking the potential of Nelson Mandela Bay to become a diverse manufacturing and export hub of Africa. We have established the Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank which consists of several work streams, namely the Hive Project Downstream Industries / Hydrogen Hub; Electrolyser Manufacturing Study (address global storage); Altermotive Mobility; Green Energy Hub (Climate Change SEZ); Global Gaps (medical devices, wind turbine manufacturing, end of life engines, etc); Skills Development Hub (plus skills inventory); and Enterprise Development (value chain enhancement). The group comprises outof-the-box thinkers such as engineers and innovators from various NMB companies. Its objective is to unlock the city’s untapped potential such as engineering and technical capabilities by leveraging the strengths of its two ports and highly skilled individuals. We have established the Trade and Investment Desk whose main objective is the marketing of Nelson Mandela Bay as a mecca for investments to potential investors and foreign-based companies. The Desk further conducts research dedicated to attracting investors to the Metro; hosts inward-buyer delegations; collaborates with stakeholders for outbound trade missions to support the market expansion of local businesses; and establishes partnerships, synergies, collaborative agreements and MOUs with international organisations and business Chambers to unlock international markets for NMB businesses. EMPOWER The Chamber’s Enterprise Development Programme, driven through a partnership with ECDC, has benefited 218 businesses in the Eastern Cape since inception in 2014. The figure includes 27 graduates who graduated from the programme in 2022. A further 54 are currently benefiting during the 2023/24 period. The Chamber conducted an improvement survey wherein it was found that of the 218 businesses, 162 are still operational. ECDC and NMBBC further partnered to support these 162 businesses between 2023/24 and 2025/26 through extensive networking, access to market and organisational development. The Entrepreneurship Desk hosted three business breakfasts dedicated to connecting our MSMEs with trade and funding opportunities available in the market, while they got the opportunity to network among each other. The supported 15 emerging exporters in 2022/23 while 17 have been inducted for the 2023/2024 period. In total, the programme has supported 65 beneficiaries. The Enterprise Development Programme has inducted 54 MSMEs from the services sector for the 2023/24 period. These MSMEs are being equipped with financial management EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2024 26 PHOTO: BTE Renewables

and controls; market penetration; and organisational development interventions. The Mentorship Network has uplifted and supported 75 mentees through four phases of the programme, which commenced in 2022. GROW We published 10 editions of ResurgeLive (formerly InfocomLIVE). Editions of the SMME Newsletter and the Clusters Newsletter were also published. We further produced the Annual Review, which showcases the Chamber’s financials and is printed and distributed to members during the Annual General Meeting. We have also grown our following on our social media platforms: Facebook 10 167, LinkedIn 3 622, X 3 771 and Instagram 2 066. CONNECT Events were back in full swing with 42 in 2022. In 2023 we successfully hosted 43 events. The Chamber’s Annual Banquet, which attracts over 800 attendees, remains one of the sought-after events in the Bay’s calendar as it brings together a spectrum of industry leaders across the Metro. The Women Empowerment Network has hosted six workshops and networking events dedicated to supporting women in business and women professionals in Nelson Mandela Bay. The Connect Network has hosted five Emerging Professionals Social Connect, dedicated to providing a platform to emerging professionals to meet like-minded people, connect and network among each other. Through the Professionals Social Connect, we established five young professionals Think Tanks, namely water and electricity; tourism, arts and culture; infrastructure; and safety and security. These Nelson Mandela Bay has much to offer investors, not least when it comes to tourism infrastructure and golden beaches. PROFILE PROFILE The Nel Busines The Ne Think Tanks met to discuss, research and innovatively formulate proposals to tackle challenges faced by the Metro. We launched A catalyst Busine an for econo Empowerment Network, which consists of A three catalyst for ec subnetworks namely The the Women Nelson Man Empowerment Network, organisation The the re Nelson M Connect Network and in the Nelson Ma organisation Mentorship Network. Combined, associations in in Nelson M the Empowerment than Network 700 businesses It is one em hosted two Mentorship of sectors. Cape, phases with a memb that supported 39 mentees, The over Nelson and 100 000 Mandel peop hosted nine events that for economic attracted The Nelson developm Ma over 100 attendees to of each collaboration for event economic betwee deve in 2023. serves of as collaboration the foundation bet The serves Business as the Chamb found SUSTAIN in the Bay. region The for Business over 1 We successfully launched team success of dedicated a in the staff regioa Nelson Mandela Bay ease Climate of doing The Business business Cha Change Coalition also to builds volunteers, tackle international lobbyin climate change challenges owners and and companies’ in internation su the Metro. tional relations to The Presidential Climate international marke Change Commission Visionhas appointed a team to undertake To be Vision a leading catalyst fo a viability study for a potential To be a leading c climate change SEZ for NMB. Nelson Mandela Ba We established Mission the CSR Cluster whose objective By influencing Mission to pool resources, as a collective, the factor enabling By influencing business envir the fa to develop a sustainable enabling project business e which will have high impact on the local economy. Task Task Teams teams We established The Nelson the Mandel Renewable Energy The Nelson Mandela Ba of Cluster three task teams which has ignited of significant seven task teams to fa doing business. The interest from some of the The task teams are: • Metro’s Infrastructure T largest energy users • who Water have Task Team - Roads and Sto now joined forces • to explore Roads and Storm - Water Sub-gro alternative energy • solutions SME - Electricity to Task Team Sub help sustain their • operations. • Electricity SMME Task and Tea En This cluster represents • 25% • Transport of Special the Project and Lo Metro’s current electricity • Metro usage Collaborat and could potentially • reduce Enterprise Trade the and Develo Investm stages of loadshedding The for Nelson the Mand entire Metro. ■ EASTERN ment CAPE Programme BUSINES PHOTO: Sharon Mugridge from Pixabay 27 EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2024 EASTERN CAPE BUS