Economic growth and development in the Metro has received a major boost following a partnership between BDO South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber to invest in a Trade and Investment Desk.
The Desk, which will officially be launched in July, will form part of the Chamber’s strategy to position the metro as the Bay of Opportunity to existing and potential investors.
BDO South Africa is one of the leading global auditing, advisory and tax firms and, through the partnership, will assist the Chamber to robustly market the metro. As a destination of choice for potential investors, and in support of existing investors, the Chamber and its members are actively driving for the creation of an enabling environment where businesses and the economy can thrive.
BDO South Africa CEO Bonga Mokoena and Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen have welcomed the partnership and the innovative thinking it represents. “The Trade and Investment Desk is founded on global investment promotion best practice and will elevate business and the economy. I commend BDO’s local leadership team on their progressive and proactive approach to partnering with the Chamber for the greater good of our local economy. Their sponsorship forms the anchor to initiating the Desk and we anticipate that the participation of other sponsors, role players and stakeholders will further strengthen its impact and reach.
Van Huyssteen is encouraged by BDO’s willingness to collaborate with the Chamber in its quest to retain and attract investment and jobs in Nelson Mandela Bay and says: “This collaboration is a significant milestone between the two entities in terms of providing value-driven service provision for local, national and international businesses. It also reaffirms the importance of finding strong synergies with like-minded partners who are aligned to the vision of unlocking opportunities to bolster South Africa’s economic growth.”
The core objectives of the Trade Desk include investment destination marketing in the Bay of Opportunity, collating economic research and data availability, facilitating inward and outbound buyer delegations, hosting international trade exhibitions, and supporting international Business-to-Business linkages. “It will optimise the Chamber’s Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank initiative which is proactively seeking opportunities to generate manufacturing investment and employment in the Bay.”
Nelson Mandela Bay is unique as a two port city, one of which is the most modern deep-water port in the Southern Hemisphere, the Port of Ngqura. Its second one, the Port of Port Elizabeth, is another strategic asset which plays a crucial role in many of the city’s leading industries, facilitating the import and export of various goods to major global markets.
Its economy is anchored by a diverse manufacturing base, with the automotive sector as the biggest driver of the local economy representing 41% of automotive manufacturing employment in the country. Alongside the automotive manufacturers, the metro has an extensive manufacturing supply chain which represents almost half of the country’s automotive components manufacturers. “Our manufacturing extends beyond the automotive sector to pharmaceuticals, beverages and agriculture products, reinforcing that this is the ideal environment for these types of economic activities. Many of these manufacturers, which represent multi-national organisations, employ highly skilled people and operate in line with global best practices,” she says.
She continues: “There is no doubt in our minds that the Bay has the potential to strengthen and expand its manufacturing capacity, particularly if the various stakeholders orientate their efforts and actions on ensuring that an enabling environment is in place, especially in terms of logistics, electricity, water and sanitation infrastructure. Alongside this it is vital that we showcase the assets of the Bay, including the fact that it offers over 300 days of sunshine, which in turn offers quality of life benefits for workers.”
“The partnership with BDO enables us to kick-start an optimal positioning of the Bay as an investment destination. We believe we will be able to garner additional support from other stakeholders to strengthen and optimise our linkages. Stronger collaboration focused around common goals, will ensure that the assets of the Bay can be unlocked to drive investment and much needed employment,” emphasises Van Huyssteen.
“We are confident that the output of the Trade Desk will impact positively to grow the economy, elevating its people, its businesses and the communities of Nelson Mandela Bay and South Africa at large,” says Bonga Mokoena CEO of BDO SA.