Eastern Cape Business 2023-24
The 2023/24 edition of Eastern Cape Business is the 16th 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. The Eastern Cape’s multi-faceted approach to the challenges and opportunities of sustainability are explored in a special feature. From caring for agricultural land through partnerships between farmers, wool brokers and fashion houses, to solar panels and improved lighting and water systems, companies are finding ways to incorporate sensible and profitable solutions into their business models. The Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency celebrates a significant milestone this year, it being 20 years since it began operations.
The 2023/24 edition of Eastern Cape Business is the 16th 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.
The Eastern Cape’s multi-faceted approach to the challenges and opportunities of sustainability are explored in a special feature. From caring for agricultural land through partnerships between farmers, wool brokers and fashion houses, to solar panels and improved lighting and water systems, companies are finding ways to incorporate sensible and profitable solutions into their business models. The Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency celebrates a significant milestone this year, it being 20 years since it began operations.
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OVERVIEW<br />
Development finance and<br />
SMME support<br />
Water contract flows from networking.<br />
The Wild Coast Sun has a new water supplier. L’aQua Joyce,<br />
owned and run by Thumeka Mcobothi, pictured, from<br />
Bizana in the Amadiba A/A Marina Location, will provide<br />
water-cooler equipment and bottles as part of the resort’s<br />
Enterprise Development initiative.<br />
The three-year contract follows Thumeka’s attendance of a two-day<br />
SMME <strong>Business</strong> and Networking Conference run by the resort to help<br />
educate and assist SMMEs with information related to procurement<br />
opportunities. She has also been selected to attend the Wild Coast Sun<br />
Academy to study an SMME business course. The resort aims to achieve<br />
90% procurement of all goods and services from BBBEE level 1 suppliers<br />
within the next five years.<br />
The Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs<br />
and Tourism (DEDEAT) is working with the <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> Development<br />
Corporation (ECDC) to increase the support of SMMEs. This is done by<br />
helping SMMEs gain access to finance and markets, as well as ensuring<br />
that provincial government contracts are accessible to small businesses.<br />
Provincial government departments are encouraged to buy from SMMEs.<br />
Three of the ECDC’s four business units are devoted to small business:<br />
Rural, Enterprise Finance and <strong>Business</strong> Support; Investment Management,<br />
Trade and Investment Promotion; and Economic Development<br />
Coordination and Sector Support.<br />
The ECDC has several financial and non-financial products tailored<br />
to SMMEs through various programmes offered by these business units.<br />
Export Help Desks have been established to support small business in the<br />
Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipalities.<br />
The Small Enterprise Development Agency is an agency of the<br />
National Department of Small <strong>Business</strong> Development (DSBD) which<br />
gives non-financial support to entrepreneurs through training, marketing<br />
and assistance in the writing of business plans. The Seda Technology<br />
Programme (Stp) helps potential businesses become trading entities. The<br />
Seda Incubation Unit supports 14 incubators in the province to the value<br />
of R29.8-million.<br />
Work is underway to refurbish several state-owned industrial parks. Areas<br />
like the Dimbaza Industrial Park assist SMMEs with affordable space and the<br />
ONLINE RESOURCES<br />
<strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> Development Corporation: www.ecdc.co.za<br />
<strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> Rural Development Agency: www.ecrda.co.za<br />
SECTOR INSIGHT<br />
The Seda Technology Programme<br />
supports 14 incubators.<br />
programme has so far created 379 jobs and<br />
involved 71 local SMMEs.<br />
The DSBD has a Shared Economic<br />
Infrastructure Facility, which is investing<br />
R34.7-million in support of <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong><br />
projects: the KwaNtozonke Product Market<br />
in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality and<br />
the Chris Hani Co-operative Development<br />
Centre in Chris Hani District. A further R1.9-<br />
million has been allocated to 141 informal<br />
and microbusinesses in the Amathole and<br />
Joe Gqabi District Municipalities.<br />
Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) has<br />
a project called Ntinga (“to soar” in Xhosa)<br />
whereby suppliers receive training and are<br />
mentored for 18 months. ■<br />
EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS <strong>2023</strong>/<strong>24</strong><br />
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