Eastern Cape Business 2017 edition

MESSAGE The

MESSAGE The Eastern Cape Development Corporation A province offering exciting investment opportunities. Discover the Eastern Cape economy, spanning an exciting spectrum of sectors ranging from agriculture to information, communication and technology. The Eastern Cape is a province which prides itself on a rich cultural history, first world financial system, robust infrastructure and a wide array of business opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs. The Eastern Cape Development Corporation has a dual role as provincial development financier: to enable local business through innovative financial and non-financial services, and to promote the province, locally and abroad. The ECDC’s Investment Promotion unit is the first point of entry for local and foreign investment into the Eastern Cape. Competitive advantages • The Eastern Cape boasts four universities offering high-quality tertiary education. Eastern Cape university graduates are in demand • Through an integrated database system developed by the province’s two industrial development zones, potential investors have ready access to skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour resources • Two purpose-built industrial development zones – the East London and Coega Industrial Development Zones, which are strategically situated on major transport and shipping routes, provide purpose-built infrastructure for investors • The Eastern Cape Provincial Government is committed to economic diversification • Set-up costs for new business in the Eastern Cape are extremely competitive • Access to domestic, SADC and global markets is guaranteed through three ports and three airports • The Eastern Cape boasts some of the best quality of living standards in South Africa. Key growth sectors Automotive The Eastern Cape auto industry manufactures half of South Africa’s new passenger vehicles and provides more than 50% of the country’s vehicle exports. The province accounts for five original equipment manufacturers and nearly 200 automotive component suppliers. Tourism The Eastern Cape hosts a range of cultural, sports, adventure and heritage tourism events including the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, the Half Ironman in East London, the Iron Man in Port Elizabeth. The Eastern Cape is the Home of Legends – birthplace of world icon, Nelson Mandela. Geographic tourist attractions include 800km of scenic coastline, national parks, and the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve, which is the only location in South Africa where seven of South Africa’s biomes can be found. Investment opportunities exist in the development of golf courses, hotels and resorts where inherent tourism potential requires development. The sector value chain presents opportunities for local enterprises, including travel agencies, shuttle operators and arts and craft producers. Business process outsourcing The primary BPO and Offshoring focus is on inbound and outbound contact centres. The province offers world-class infrastructure at the East London and Coega IDZs. Investors can take advantage of the availability of a large English-speaking workforce, EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2017 6

MESSAGE competitive labour costs and an established ICT infrastructure. Agriculture, agro-processing and aquaculture The Eastern Cape is a producer of high-quality dairy, wool and mohair, game, mutton, beef, ostrich and goat meat, chicory, pineapple, citrus and deciduous fruit and several horticultural products. The province is also making its mark in areas of new production such as berries, essential oils, macadamia and pecan nuts, sweet sorghum and soya beans for bio-fuel and animal feed, as well as cassava and pineapple. Niche opportunities exist in the freshwater and marine environments. Energy The Eastern Cape is rich in primary energy resources such as wind, solar, hydro and bio-energy. It is a province that boasts 300 days of sunshine. Unsurprisingly, the province has captured the majority of the successful wind farm applications under the first rounds of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) assessments. Areas of opportunity include the manufacturing of renewable technologies and components, the supply of raw materials, and the harvesting of solar, wind, hydro, biogas and biomass resources. ECDC services • The Investment and Trade Promotion unit of the ECDC assists investors in taking advantage of the Eastern Cape’s compelling investment prospects through identifying and accessing business opportunities within key sectors. • Identifying and packaging investment and business opportunities. • Identifying opportunities for joint ventures with local partners. • Advice on, and assistance with location decisions • Providing a professional and relevant after-care service to all investors. • Assisting investors to access investment incentive schemes. These range from manufacturing rebates to preferential production factor costs. • Assistance to companies with export readiness assessment analysis. • Access to national export incentive programmes • Assist companies to be part of local and international trade missions. • Provide market sector intelligence on specific regions. CONTACT INFO Head office: East London | Tel: +27 43 704 5600 Port Elizabeth | Tel: +27 41 373 8260 Queenstown | Tel: +27 45 838 1910 Mthatha | Tel: +27 47 501 2200 Satellite offices: King William’s Town | Tel: +27 43 604 8800 Mount Ayliff | Tel: +27 39 254 0584 Butterworth| Tel: +27 47 401 2700 Aliwal North | Tel: +27 51 633 3007 Email: invest@ecdc.co.za Website: www.ecdc.co.za 7 EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2017