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CEO’sLetterFrom the desk ofKevin HustlerPhotography: Sandy Smyth CoffeyHave you nominated a rising star to this year’s Top 40 under 40? We takegreat pride in our members, and the Top 40 Under 40 serves as an annualshowcase of dynamic young businesspeople who choose to build theirlives, careers and businesses in Nelson Mandela Bay. This year we’re focusingon innovators and entrepreneurs. Nominate your Top 40 Under 40achiever today and join us in celebrating the contribution of a growingforce of young people under the age of 40 who see Nelson Mandela Bay’spotential to support their career and business aspirations. See the 2011achievers in action on page 20, and learn more about the nomination processon page 56.We take our mandate to act as the voice of business very seriously. Thelast few months have seen the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamberstand up on behalf of business to engage with the relevant stakeholders intackling various issues, most notably the question of the Integrated PublicTransport System (IPTS).In a letter addressed to members in July, I statedemphatically that the IPTS should support and not deter business in theCBD. Reports from business owners in the Govan Mbeki and Kempstonroad areas pointed to the exact opposite effect – members reported widespreadloss of access to customers and deliveries and an overall negativeimpact on business operations in the area. The letter, and subsequent communicationto the media, outlined the Chamber’s stance and recommendationson the issue. We advocated an efficient and effective IPTS, to delivera valuable service to the community at large. We called for all parties, includingtaxi owners and the Algoa Bus Company, to be properly consulted,and urged the municipality to address the matter with urgency, to avoidthe loss of rate-paying businesses and future investors.The original launchdate of 1 July was shifted to October this year, and the Metro initiated aseries of public meetings in areas located in proximity to the initial sevenIPTS routes. Statements released by the municipality at the time indicatedthat the implementation of the IPTS would take Nelson Mandela Bay “significantlycloser to its vision of becoming a world-class city and will providecommuters with a safe, reliable, convenient and affordable public transportsystem”. As representatives of organized business, we will keep a watchfuleye on the process as we are deeply concerned at the delays in implementationand the negative impact on the city as a whole.We welcomed a series of good news reports around job creation in thecity. Eveready is getting ready to be the first South African company tomanufacture energy-saving bulbs. This will mean employment for about150 more employees once manufacturing begins. Ford Motor Companywill add 800 new positions to increase production at its Silverton AssemblyPlant and its Struandale Engine Plant, and a R120-million investment byCaltex East Cape Marketer not only holds enormous potential for job creationin the Eastern Cape, but increases access to fuel.The Business Chamberwelcomes its new membersBay West City (Pty) Ltd • Dullabh Investments cc t/a Delbro• IEMAS Financial Service Co-Operative LimitedImagio ProductionsIvor Markman Photographer • LasertechM28 Trading Enterprize • Newbreed TradingRantsane Mario (Pty) Ltd • Wiki Village (Pty) LtdWilke Weiss Van Rooyen IncGold MembersSilver MembersBlue MembersThe Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber is powered byInfocom September 2012 3