Views
6 years ago

Western Cape Business 2018 edition

  • Text
  • Nedbank
  • Sectors
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Government
  • Africa
  • Management
  • Infrastructure
  • Transport
  • Opportunities
  • Energy
  • Development
  • Wesgro
  • Vodacom
  • Investment
  • Cape
  • Business
  • Tourism
  • Economic
  • Municipality
The 2018 edition of Western Cape Business is the 11th issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2005, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Western Cape. In addition to the regular articles providing insight into each of the key economic sectors of the province, there are special features on the growth of tourism (spurred by an innovative programme designed to create more direct flights to Cape Town), medical technology as a growth sector and the pursuit of excellence that drives the Cape Winemakers Guild. The journal contains a message from Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, and contributions from significant business leaders from Accelerate Cape Town, the Cape Chamber of Commerce and the Western Cape Business Opportunities Forum. An interview with Tim Harris, Wesgro’s CEO, reveals some of the recipe for the province’s economic success. Updated information on the Western Cape is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.globalafricanetwork.com, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well as our flagship South African Business title.

FOCUS High-quality

FOCUS High-quality exports enter the space age The Exporter of the Year competition, hosted by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, gives an insight into the breadth and depth of business excellence in the province. Exporter of the Year winner – Technical Systems (Pty) Ltd. Once again the judges of the ECIC Cape Chamber of Commerce Exporter of the Year Competition were bowled over by the quality of the entries. This year 10 of the entries were from companies run by women. That is a record for this competition and it certainly shows that women are making great progress in the commercial and industrial world. Even better news is that seven of the 13 finalists are companies either owned or run by women. The competition has become a window into the business world of the Western Cape and every year there are surprises. One of the surprises this year was an entry from a firm which makes components for small satellites, largely for US companies in the space business. Last year a category winner was Geo Data Design, which interrogates satellites and analyses the images from space. Hi-tech industries are the companies of the future and it is reassuring to know that the educational institutions of the Western Cape are producing the scientists who can compete with the best in the world. In spite of all the problems with WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2018 46

FOCUS tertiary education, the quality is still coming through. This is very reassuring and should give us confidence in the future. The challenge is to keep these brilliant people in South Africa and in the Western Cape. This is something we need to think about for we have lost too many South Africans to other countries and to research institutions which know the value of good, creative brains. A previous category winner in this competition, GrahamTek, the firm from the Strand which designs and manufactures some of the best desalination equipment in the world, is a proudly Cape company. The Chamber is proud to be among the first institutions to honour GrahamTek. For about 20 years the firm has been making and selling desalination equipment to many countries (including the US) but, like the prophet of old, it received very little recognition in its own country. All that is changing now and we have learned that major investments are flowing into GrahamTek and it is being seen as a billion-dollar enterprise for the future. We are going to need them in the next few months and for years to come. This year two finalists came from the agricultural sector and the wine industry, a vital part of the Western Cape’s economy. Generally, wine and fruit exporters have done well in the competition. Agriculture is a labourintensive industry and we have been pleased to see an important trend in the industry to get workers more deeply involved and Design company Research Unit won two awards: the Nedbank award for transformation and the Chamber’s award for Design. Photo: Research Unit. even become shareholders. This is how it should be for all involved, from the vineyard workers to the winemakers and the marketers, all of whom play an essential role in producing the product. Schemes which encourage the sharing of success point the way to a better future and set an example for other industries. Beauty and health products featured strongly in the competition and design is another important element, as it should be in the Design Capital of the World. And then there are the finalists who come from left field. Who would have thought that remanufacturing drums and making new barrels would become an export industry? One of the finalists takes shipping containers and turns them into new products, ranging from offices to bedrooms and other accommodation. This is one of the things that is so exciting about the Exporter competition. The enterprise and inventiveness of the Cape’s industries! The winner was Technical Systems, a Bellville company which manufactures automated feeding equipment for intensive poultry and pig farms. It was the third time the firm has won the award. It has also won the trophy for the best engineering/manufacturing company for the seventh time in the annual competition, as well as the Design and Innovation awards. In the 27 years of the competition no company has come close to matching this outstanding record . Contact details: Mary Jean Thomas-Johnson Email: mary-jean@capechamber.co.za Tel: +27 21 402 4300 47 WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2018

Other recent publications by Global Africa Network: