A unique guide to business and investment in the Eastern Cape.
The 2016 edition of Eastern Cape Business is the ninth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2006, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Eastern Cape Province.
The Eastern Cape enjoys an abundance of natural and human resources, as well as established industrial infrastructure that drives the economy of the province. This includes three ports, covered extensively in a series of features and interviews in this issue, and two industrial development zones which are home to a wide range of manufacturers and exporters. The 2016 edition includes contributions from the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), Mercedes-Benz South Africa, the regional head of Nedbank in the province, as well as an extensive interview with Reuben Zwane, the CEO of the Eastern Cape Gambling & Betting Board and the featured Eastern Cape Businessman of the Year. New for the 2016 edition is a comprehensive 10-page map guide to the province sponsored by Caltex Eastern Cape Marketer.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition of the magazine (15 000 copies), the full content can also be viewed online at www.easterncapebusiness.co.za. Updated information on the Eastern Cape is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well as our flagship South African Business title.
OVERVIEW and three pilot
OVERVIEW and three pilot projects for cultivating bamboo have been put in place by the EasternCape Development Corporation and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Pineapples With a production of around 80 000 tons per annum, the EasternCape is the leading pineapple-producing province in South Africa and, in total, around 90% of the stock is exported. Known as the Sunshine Coast, Port Alfred, East London and Bathurst provide the perfect climate for pineapple growth. As very little watering is required the drought has not really impacted the production line. Cape annually, with a weekly auction held in Port Elizabeth. Dairy The EasternCape produces a quarter of the country’s dairy, which makes it the country’s Wool Wool is grown across the EasternCape and it is the largest wool-producing province in South Africa. Merino, Dohne Merino, Afrino, Letelle and the Dormer and Île-de-France are the most popular sheep breeds for wool. Around 90% of the wool produced in the EasternCape is exported to China and various European countries. Around 15-million kilograms of wool is produced in the Eastern EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2016 72
OVERVIEW leading dairy supplier. EasternCape dairy producers supply all the major brands, including Parmalot, Clover and Nestlé. Dairy is best produced in cooler, coastal areas, although the Karoo has proven to be a major contributor to the province’s production. Jersey and Holstein are the best dairy breeds. Citrus The EasternCape is the largest producer of Citrus in South Africa, and this crop contributes significantly to the provincial economy. The four most popular citrus fruits are categorised as orange, grapefruit, lemons and soft citrus. Addo is the largest producer of lemons in the EasternCape as well as South Africa. Citrus farming is a long process to establish as it can take up to 3-5 years before the trees bear fruit. However, once they do then the trees will usually keep bearing fruit for between 25-30 years. Mohair As leaders in mohair production, South Africa produces 53% of all mohair globally and, together with Lesotho, 70% of the world’s production. This combined production makes Africa a prominent continent for excellent quality mohair. There are two dedicated Mohair spinners in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, and the majority of the world’s mohair is processed in two plants in the EasternCape. Port Elizabeth is home to the biggest mohair broker in the world, Cape Mohair & Wool (CMW), making Port Elizabeth the mohair capital of the world. The Mohair headquarters is located in a high density area in close proximity to the Port Elizabeth Airport, business zones and shopping centres. The producers of mohair are represented by the South African Mohair Growers’ association and the breeders are represented by the Ram Breeders Society, both with their offices situated in Jansenville, the heart of the mohair production area. 73 EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2016
