“The Chamber has made positive strides in advancing the Bay’s economic potential, particularly through our targeted interventions and collaborative partnerships. By working together, we are seeing tangible improvements in key areas that affect our local business sector,” said Denise van Huyssteen, chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber during her address at this year’s Annual General Meeting.
Van Huyssteen reflected on the progress the Chamber has made over the past year through its strategic initiatives to address some of the challenges facing businesses in Nelson Mandela Bay. She said the Chamber has gained substantial momentum, thanks to the collective action and support of the local business community and key partners.
In her address, Van Huyssteen emphasised the core purpose of the Chamber’s work which is focused on retaining and attracting investment and employment, and unlocking the potential of the Bay as a diversified manufacturing hub in Africa. The Chamber’s initiatives have focused on two main objectives, namely to Resurge the Bay and to unlock its economic opportunities through its Bay of Opportunity campaign.
Key Highlights from the Year
Resurge the Bay
Clusters: The Chamber has supported the creation of new geographic business clusters in Fairview, Newton Park, and Walmer, bringing the total number of clusters to 11. To date 10 of these 11 clusters have become formal business associations, working together to improve their immediate operating environments. These clusters have implemented a number of initiatives focused on enhancing safety, security, and cleanliness.
Task Teams: Collaboration between technical experts from business and various stakeholders have resulted in collaboration through technical task teams on electricity, water and sanitation. The Chamber launched a Disaster Management Task Team last year which will be supported by the recently launched Risk Management Desk which will be positioned to proactively mitigate against the risks of potential natural disasters and other risks on business continuity.
Bay of Opportunity
Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank: A key initiative driving future growth, the Think Tank is investigating seven potential projects that leverage the Bay’s strengths in manufacturing and technology development. The aim is to tap into low-carbon and high-tech opportunities that can help future-proof the metro’s economy and position it as the diverse manufacturing base on the African continent.
NMB Manufacturing Showcase: The Showcase which was held last year highlighted the Bay’s manufacturing capabilities and the tremendous potential linked to recent investments. This event underscored the unity of the local manufacturing sector and business community in working together to unlock economic opportunities.
Action Arms: The Trade and Investment Desk, which was launched last year, has played a critical role in positioning Nelson Mandela Bay as an investment destination. By engaging with trade delegations, foreign diplomats, and international business chambers, the Chamber has supported two new investments in the business processing sector, generating over 400 new jobs.
Bay of Opportunity Initiatives: To attract investors, the Chamber launched a Bay of Opportunity publication and an online portal (www.bayofopportunity.co.za). Additionally, the Bay of Opportunity Ambassadors Programme, now comprising 30 influential business leaders, is helping foster new investment discussions and business-to-business linkages.
Entrepreneurship Growth: The Chamber’s Entrepreneurship Desk has seen membership grow from 250 to 350 small businesses, with nearly 70% of members being black-owned and 57% female-owned.
Skills Development: The newly launched Skills Development Desk aims to help address critical technical skills shortages through an industry-led approach, helping to build a workforce that meets the demands of a rapidly changing economy.
The Chamber achieved B-BBEE Level 3 accreditation in the past year, reflecting its commitment to economic transformation and inclusive growth of the local economy.
“The growth in membership, attracting 125 new members in 2024, serves as a powerful indication that the Chamber is delivering value to the business community and making a meaningful impact in the metro,” she said.
Van Huyssteen also highlighted the importance of key partnerships with national organisations such as Naamsa, Naacam, Agbiz, the South African Property Owners Association, and Business Leadership SA. These partnerships have provided a platform for the Chamber to raise local business issues at the national level and leverage shared resources for the benefit of the region. “We are very excited that Naacam will be bringing its automotive components manufacturing event to the Bay in August, and that Naamsa will be hosting SA Automotive Week here in October. The fact that both of these major events will be held in the Bay is a testament to the importance of our automotive manufacturing sector, which represents almost half of the country’s automotive employment.”
“The success we’ve achieved over the past year would not have been possible without the active involvement of our volunteers, our members, and our partners,” concluded Van Huyssteen. “We are truly grateful for the continued support and collaboration of all stakeholders who are working together to unlock the full potential of Nelson Mandela Bay. We look forward to even greater collaboration as we continue to strive for investment and employment to be retained and attracted in our metro.”
#ResurgingTheBay #BayOfOpportunity