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.
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sector for the construction of a solar power plant in Nelson Mandela Bay. • Ivili Loboya Wool Processing is investing R45- million for the expansion of its existing woolprocessing factory to increase its processing capacity and for infrastructure investment at the Amathole District Municipality. • In the Information Communication Technology sector, global technology company, Jendamark Automation, is investing R150-million in digital Fourth Industrialisation Revolution technologies in Nelson Mandela Bay. • Property development firm, AJ Properties, is investing R100-million in the property sector for the establishment of a retail shopping centre in the OR Tambo District Municipality. • In Nelson Mandela Bay, leader in the development, fabrication and supply of automotive metal formed components, Formex Industries, is investing R114-million in the manufacturing industry for the expansion of a new press plant to increase assembly capacity for Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s US variants. • Global automaker and provider of innovative mobility solutions, Stellantis, is investing R3- billion in the manufacturing sector to develop a new vehicle manufacturing facility in Nelson Mandela Bay. • Specialising in the development of fuel stations and convenience shopping centres in the lower living standards measure (LSM) markets, Imperium Developments is investing R109- million in the property sector for construction of shopping and convenience centres in Peddie, Sterkspruit, Bhisho and in the Berea Shopping Centre, located in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. • Thezi-Langa Energy is investing R900-million in the energy sector into a 50-megawatt solar PV project at the East London Industrial Development Zone’s Ntabozuko Renewable Energy Park in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. • Furthermore, Hive Hydrogen is investing R105-billion in the renewable energy sector for the construction of a green hydrogen/green ammonia production facility at the Coega Special Economic Zone in Nelson Mandela Bay. Infrastructure is at the heart of improving the climate for inward investment. The Coega River Bridge is an impressive piece of engineering. The plant in Nelson Mandela Bay where sophisticated automotive parts are produced by BENTELER has recently undergone a 9 000m² expansion. • Bushveld Electrolyte Company is investing R330-million into a vanadium electrolyte production facility in the East London IDZ in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. It is the largest publicly announced plant outside China. • Tshedza Pictures, is renewing its commitment to the film sector with an R80-million investment in Season 2 of Gqeberha: The Empire. • Nexus Yachts is investing R181-million in the manufacturing sector for the expansion of its facility to build new balance catamarans in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality. • In the information communication technology sector, the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa is investing R159- million in broadband implementation projects across various regions in the EasternCape. • In the healthcare sector, Medilinks is investing R100-million for diagnostic and primary healthcare centres. The company is scoping appropriate locations in various parts of the EasternCape. PHOTO: ARQ Construction PHOTO: BENTELER International AG
• Lastly, South Africa’s largest mobile communications company, Vodacom, is investing R500-million in the Information Communication Technology sector for expanding connectivity in rural areas and townships. The multi-product Sundale Dairy is just one of several businesses in many sectors which has been attracted to the space and services available in the East London Industrial Zone. Bushveld Electrolyte is investing R330-million into making vanadium electrolyte in the EasternCape. Establishment of the Provincial Investment Council (PIC) The Provincial Investment Council (PIC) was launched in September 2023. It is a structure established by the EasternCape Premier and is constituted by investment promotion leaders, industrial champions of business, large companies and prominent industry bodies in the EasternCape across priority sectors. The PIC includes the leadership of investment promotion agencies, economic cluster departments and metros and district municipalities and other relevant publicsector and private-sector stakeholders with the aim of strengthening province-wide planning, reporting, operation and implementation of investment activities. The objectives of the PIC are to: • lead and coordinate the investment efforts in the EasternCape across the public and private sectors • strengthen province-wide planning, reporting, operation and implementation of investment activities • identify investment-stimulation measures, which include critical reform programmes • unblock red tape by creating interventions to address any bureaucratic processes impacting industry development relevant to the provincial departments, provincial agencies and national government • improve the interface and coordination between government and industry players on trade and investment matters • create mechanisms where investor grievances will be addressed to prevent governmentinvestor disputes • enhance and improve the regulatory environment for ease of doing business and to enhance inward investment attraction. All of the EasternCape OEMs regularly top up their investments in new production lines and models, making the automotive industry one of the most important sectors in the provincial economy. Here Mercedes-Benz vehicles await export from the Port of East London. PHOTO: ELIDZ
