As for many South Africans, heritage has been on my mind recently. The topic of heritage becomes more prominent in September of course, when we reflect in and around Heritage Day on our cultural history.

I have been contemplating a different kind of heritage though: our regional history of export excellence.

Though the export industry certainly looked different in its early days, the Eastern Cape has been exporting its products to the rest of the world for about 300 years. Algoa Bay was officially awarded port status in 1825, though it took many years before a safe protected harbour was established for trade.

Today the Bay boasts two ports, the Port of Gqeberha and the Port of Ngqura, operated by Transnet and handling the export and import of various products. These ports are the backbone of the region’s export industry.

Similarly, the industries of export within the region have expanded over the course of three centuries. In the 19^th century, exports were predominantly from farming, including wool. The mohair industry, in fact, was founded locally after a sultan gifted Angora goats to South Africa in the 1830s. From this humble beginning, the industry grew to establish South Africa as the mohair capital of the world: our country currently produces more than half of the global mohair supply, and Nelson Mandela Bay is the main export hub for this.

Another longstanding industry for the Eastern Cape is of course citrus. The Sundays River Citrus Company (SRCC) has been operating in the region since 1924, though the first experimental citrus planting in the Sundays River Valley was already done in the 1880s. Today, SRCC is the largest exporter of citrus from South Africa, distributing their products to customers in North America, Europe and Asia.

The automotive industry is one of the strongest contributors to exports today, though automotive exports from the Eastern Cape began in the 1960s. One of the consistent roleplayers in the automotive space has been Volkswagen Group Africa, who recently celebrated their 75^th anniversary in South Africa and who exports their locally-built vehicles to 38 markets around the world.

Finally, I must mention Aspen Pharmacare, which has been operating in Gqeberha since 1850. In its original form, the company was established as a chemist and druggist, Lennon Ltd, by Berry Grey Lennon, nephew to the governor of the Cape of Good Hope. The company went public in 1898, and Aspen as we know it today still carries this registration number. Aspen still calls South Africa its headquarters but has a presence in 115 markets and offices in 48 countries and territories.

I am certain there are many more examples like these, because that is the heritage of business in the Eastern Cape. Even our own organisation, Exporters Eastern Cape, has been supporting exporters in the region for 46 years. Our province has a history of success and sustainable business, for a number of reasons. Aside from the conditions that are conducive to thriving industry, there is an underlying belief in the potential of the Eastern Cape. It is what brings investment here, it is what motivates the business community to support one another and drive growth and improvement, and ultimately, it is what makes business build a long legacy here.

By Quintin Levey, Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman

Published in The Herald, September/October 2026

Two Nelson Mandela Bay business representative bodies have entered into a collaborative agreement to help advance the region’s exports, trade and investment.

The partnership brings together the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Trade and Investment Desk and Exporters Eastern Cape’s export-focused network to support businesses overcoming export hurdles on the ground, and positioning them to become more competitive, better equipped to access new markets and expand their contribution to the regional economy.

“Our mandates differ, in that the Business Chamber undertakes strategic initiatives and interventions to drive for an enabling environment for its members, while alongside this encouraging the retention and attraction of investment and employment in the Bay.  Exporters EC in turn assists in growing exports out of the Eastern Cape, but together we have a shared goal of advancing the region’s economy by supporting businesses to succeed. The Business Chamber is leading the way with the support they are providing to businesses in the Metro and we are excited to partner with them through the MOU,” said Exporters EC Chairman, Quintin Levey.

Chamber Chief Executive Officer Denise van Huyssteen said, ‘’This will be achieved through lobbying and advocacy efforts focused on critical logistics, tariffs, and other trade facilitation issues which impact upon the sustainability of exporters,’’.

‘’The partnership will further provide a platform for the two organisations to share relevant industry intelligence and strengthen engagement with stakeholders responsible for trade facilitation and the broader export environment. For businesses seeking to access international markets, the ability to move goods efficiently, manage trade-related costs and navigate the export environment is critical to their competitiveness.”

The partnership will provide a platform for the two organisations to identify and better understand these challenges, share relevant industry intelligence and strengthen engagement with stakeholders responsible for trade facilitation and the broader export environment.

“Through engagement and information sharing we want to promote and grow the Eastern Cape export market as well as our respective members who are exporters and emerging/prospective exporters,” said Levey.

NMBBC is representative of a broad spectrum of businesses in Nelson Mandela Bay. It is amongst the largest organised business structures in the Eastern Cape with a membership of approximately 700 businesses.

PHOTO CAPTION: At the signing of the collaborative agreement are, from left Quintin Levey (Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman), Suzanne Loubser (Exporters Eastern Cape Operations Manager), Kelvin Naidoo (Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber President) and Denise van Huyssteen (Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO).

GQEBERHA – Exporters Eastern Cape has noted the news that Martina Biene, Volkswagen Group Africa Chairperson and Managing Director, will leave the company to take up a new assignment as Board Member for Sales and Marketing for Škoda Auto.

Biene, who was the first female MD at VWGA, served in this position for four years and had a significant impact on the company and its role in local industry during this time.

In 2024, the VWGA plant in Kariega achieved an all-time record production volume of 167 084 vehicles. The locally-built Polo remains one of the most exported vehicles from our city’s ports. The plant will soon also begin exporting their new model, the Tengo, to African markets, and the start of production for this vehicle was pulled forward as a result of the plant’s preparedness. Production of the Tengo was also preceded by a R4 billion investment in the plant, announced in 2024.

As a business leader in Nelson Mandela Bay, Biene led by example. Her work outside of VWGA, notably her involvement in the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and her tenure as President of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), gave her the platform to lobby for changes that benefit not only VWGA but the business community of the metro, and the automotive industry at large.

We were also fortunate to work closely with her and her team, through VWGA’s involvement with Exporters Eastern Cape and the local business community.

“On behalf of Exporters Eastern Cape, I would like to thank Martina for her contribution to Nelson Mandela Bay in the past four years,” said Quintin Levey, Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman. “Organisations are built on more than products and performance. They are built on people, relationships and a lasting commitment to excellence. Martina’s passion for the Bay and for Volkswagen Group Africa will have a lasting impact.

“I wish her all the best in her next role, and we also look forward to welcoming her successor, Christiane Zorn, and supporting her journey as the next leader of Volkswagen Group Africa.”

PHOTO CAPTION FROM LEFT: Quintin Levey (Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman), Vernon Naidoo (VWGA) and Martina Biene (VWGA MD)

Women’s Month is characterised by special events and a welcome public holiday for most South Africans. However, the need for advocating for women in business leadership positions remain, despite these ceremonial and celebratory events.

Women occupied just 35% of CEO positions in South African mid-market businesses in 2025, despite women constituting higher proportions of other senior management roles (SNG Grant Thornton, 2025). The numbers become even more dismal when considering Chairperson (11%) and Partner (8%) positions occupied by women in business in SA.

While government has well over 40% of women in parliament and cabinet (Parliament of South Africa, 2024), this does not necessarily translate into equal access to the most influential positions of institutional power.

Women in exports in the Eastern Cape have shown exceptional leadership and for this reason a new category was introduced in Exporters Eastern Cape’s prestigious Exporter of the Year Awards. The new category, Woman-Owned/Led Small Business Award, will be for candidates who lead a 51% female-owned company involved in the export industry, with women actively involved in the management of the business, and has a turnover of less than R25-million.

SJM Flex Managing Director South Africa/ Global HR Director, Rajes Padayachie, believes women should be represented not only in the export industry, but across all sectors of the economy: “A diverse workforce brings broader perspectives, encourages innovation, and strengthens decision-making, all of which are critical in today’s competitive global markets. Women’s participation in export industries expands the available talent pool while supporting more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”

In fact, Padayachie says international buyers and multinational organisations increasingly value diversity, equity, and inclusion within their supply chains, creating opportunities for women-owned businesses to compete globally.

“It creates opportunities for women entrepreneurs to access international markets, scale their businesses, and contribute meaningfully to global trade. I am passionate about development and education, and I believe visible female representation in export industries inspires younger generations to pursue careers in international trade and business. By empowering more women to participate and lead in exports, we unlock tremendous untapped potential and build a stronger pipeline of future leaders,” said Padayachie.

SJM Flex SA is a Gqeberha-based automotive component manufacturer specialising in the production of flexible couplings used within vehicle exhaust systems for both truck and passenger vehicles. The Korean-owned company supply high-quality components to global markets, with approximately 95% of its production being exported.

La Mohair Director and Owner Larissa Primmer said women’s representation in export industries is important because it creates opportunities for women from rural and disadvantaged communities to earn an income, develop valuable skills and support their families.

La Mohair’s product range includes knitted Kid Mohair scarves, shawls, beanies and cardigans, as well as woven mohair blankets and knee rugs.

Primmer is passionate about empowering women through employment and skills development with her company. “At La Mohair, we also support the wider community by employing temporary staff during busy periods, giving more women the opportunity to gain experience, learn new skills and become financially independent.”

Her advice to emerging exporting entrepreneurs who are women is to start with confidence, even if they do not have everything figured out yet. “Learn as much as you can about your product, your target market and the export process, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Build strong relationships with everyone, and understand that success takes time. Most importantly, believe in the value of what you have to offer.”

“My involvement with Exporters EC has given me valuable knowledge, connections and exposure to other people in the export industry in this city. The networking and support have been particularly valuable, helping me grow my confidence and strengthen my business approach to exporting,” said Primmer.

• The 2026 Exporter of the Year Awards will take place on Friday, 6 November 2026 at the Tramways. While entries have closed for the awards, bookings for tables can be made at Exporter of the Year 2026 Banquet – Booking – Exporters Eastern Cape.

By Quintin Levey, Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman

Published in The Herald, August/September 2026

• First South African-built Volkswagen, a Beetle, produced in Uitenhage on 31 August 1951
• The plant has built nearly 40 models and over 4.8 million vehicles to date

For a third of the time there has been a Uitenhage (now Kariega), there has been Volkswagen in Uitenhage.

The small industrial town, established in 1804, has also been home to Volkswagen for 75 years, during which time the brand has built their legacy within South Africa.

The makers of the People’s Car are celebrating their 75th anniversary of building and selling Volkswagens in South Africa, marking the first Beetle being built in the Kariega factory.

At the start, this factory belonged to South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors (SAMAD), and the production line-up also featured Studebaker and Austin models. From the moment the Beetle rolled off the production line on 31 August 1951, it was an icon in the minds of South African customers. The introduction of the Type 2 – also known as the Kombi– in 1955 further cemented the brand’s popularity in the local market.

In 1956 Volkswagenwerk in Germany bought a controlling share in the factory, which was their first plant outside of Germany. The SAMAD factory was renamed Volkswagen of South Africa in 1966, and in 1974 the factory became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG.

To date, Plant Kariega has manufactured nearly 40 models, including the Beetle, Kombi, Golf, Audi, Citi Golf, Jetta, Polo and Polo Vivo. Over 4.8 million vehicles have rolled off the production line, of which more than three million have been built for the local market.

The company, renamed Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) in 2025 to reflect its plans of expanding across the African continent, is currently the sole exporter of the Polo worldwide. The plant also builds the best-selling passenger car in South Africa, the Vivo, and will soon add a third model, the Tengo, to its production line-up. Additionally, VWGA is the headquarters for Region Africa, which includes assembly facilities in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana.

Aside from building quality vehicles, Volkswagen has a track record for prioritising people. In the 1980s, the company made waves by training black artisans at a time when segregation was enforced by law outside the factory. Working together with stalwarts such as John Gomomo, who became one of the first shop stewards at Volkswagen, and later a member of Parliament, these efforts laid the foundation for robust, ongoing union representation at Volkswagen.

The company has also invested approximately R800 million in community projects since 1994 through the VW Community Trust and various projects and partnerships. Notably, Volkswagen was actively involved in the fight against Covid-19 in the early 2020s, opening a field hospital and a vaccination centre, and funding upgrades to the NHLS testing laboratory, among other initiatives.

In celebration of the 75th anniversary, the company has partnered with Mastertons Coffee and Tea Specialists, South Africa’s oldest coffee roasters, to produce the special-edition People’s Blend coffee. The occasion was also marked with a gala dinner on 31 August, with President Cyril Ramaphosa as special guest for the evening.

“Like me, many South Africans carry memories of the place of Volkswagen cars in their lives,” the President said in his keynote address. “This brand is so woven into our culture that we sometimes have to remind ourselves that Volkswagen is not a South African vehicle.”

“Volkswagen has never been content simply to do business in South Africa. It has sought to become part of the fabric of our nation. We celebrate this proud history. We celebrate generations of Volkswagen employees who have built this company.

We celebrate the suppliers, dealers, organised labour and communities that have been part of this journey, and we celebrate the contribution that Volkswagen has made to Kariega, Nelson Mandela Bay, the Eastern Cape and the South African economy.”

The gala event will be followed by an exciting full-day event for employees on 1 September. Both events include a first look at the Tengo, the new model to be built in Kariega for the South African and African markets.

“Our roots run deep in this town and in the Eastern Cape, and from this foundation we intend to build a future for Volkswagen across the African continent,” said Martina Biene, VWGA Chairperson and Managing Director. “As the second-oldest vehicle brand in South Africa, there are not many companies that can say they have been operating in one place and delivering quality products for 75 years, and we are only able to make this claim because we have had a long history of dedicated employees building not just vehicles, but a legacy for our brand and company,” added Biene.

“I am deeply grateful to our employees, past and present, our customers, suppliers, dealers, government stakeholders and Volkswagen fans, for how they have shaped our journey in South Africa so far,” concluded Biene.

“Kariega has secured its place in the Volkswagen world over the past 75 years,” said Thomas Schaefer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand globally, and former Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa. “Generations of employees have built vehicles here that have won the trust of customers in South Africa and far beyond. The plant stands for quality, competitiveness and a clear commitment to performance.”

“At the same time, Kariega demonstrates a simple truth: global success is not created at headquarters. It is built by strong teams, strong locations and strong local roots. South Africa is far more than a manufacturing base for Volkswagen. It is the strategic anchor for our business in Africa and an important part of our global success story.”

“As we celebrate this milestone, we look ahead with confidence, determined to build on this foundation, develop skills and deliver world-class products for customers across Africa and around the globe.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Revealing the new Tengo to guests at the gala dinner, (L – R) Thomas Schaefer, CEO of the Volkswagen Brand, President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, Martina Biene, Volkswagen Group Africa Chairperson and Managing Director, and Dr Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group.

The Eastern Cape is famous for international trade. From the busy car shipping docks in Gqeberha to the massive fruit farms in the Sundays River Valley, our province knows how to sell to the world. But today, global trade is changing. It is becoming more digital and fast-moving.

At the core of our organisation has always been a simple understanding: exports are a critical contributor to our economy, yes, of course, but also to our greater society. When local businesses successfully sell to the world, they do not just boost our country’s GDP. They invest directly back into our communities, create meaningful employment opportunities, and prove on a global stage that South Africa is a place worth investing in.

Lately, our team has been thinking a lot about who will drive this contribution next. When we look at the future of trade in the Eastern Cape, the answer is clear: it lies with our youth. This is exactly why Exporters Eastern Cape is introducing an exciting new category to this year’s Exporter of the Year Awards: the Youth Entrepreneur Emerging Exporter Award.

This category is specifically designed to celebrate companies founded and run by an owner younger than 25 years of age, who has been exporting or supporting the export industry for less than two years.

​Consider the numbers for a moment. Africa has the youngest population in the entire world, with over 60% of people on the continent under the age of 25. Yet, closer to home, our youth face a severe unemployment crisis, with nearly half of our young workforce struggling to find a job. The traditional path of employment is no longer enough. We need a shift, and that shift happens when young people step up to create businesses that do not just serve their local neighbourhoods, but the global market.

Stepping into international trade as a young person takes an immense amount of courage. The barriers to entry are high, and the challenges are very real. When you are new to the game, you often operate without the large financial backing, the decades of experience, or the deep networks that older, established companies take for granted. Navigating customs paperwork, transport logistics, and foreign laws in your first two years of business can feel completely overwhelming.

​But the younger generation also brings something completely unique to the table. They are digital natives who inherently understand e-commerce, digital platforms, and how to connect with people online across borders. They are agile, they pivot quickly, and they naturally care about sustainability, which is exactly what international buyers are looking for right now.

Because the obstacles are daunting, organisations like Exporters Eastern Cape have a profound responsibility to support youth in business on this journey. We know that we cannot simply ask young people to help save the economy without giving them the tools to do it. True empowerment cannot just be about giving out a trophy once a year. It has to be about creating a lasting ecosystem of support.

For us, that means providing practical training on how export laws and taxes work. It means intentionally pairing young entrepreneurs under 25 with business mentors who can pass down hard-earned industry knowledge. Most importantly, it means opening doors to international networks and trade shows that might otherwise feel completely out of reach.

Exporters Eastern Cape will soon launch its Export Development Programme, a structured initiative designed to equip Eastern Cape businesses – including youth-owned enterprises – with the skills, knowledge and support needed to compete successfully in international markets. The programme will guide participating companies through a comprehensive export journey, including business assessment, commercial acceleration, export readiness training, mentorship, market intelligence, compliance support and access to local and international market opportunities.

As we look forward to our annual awards evening on 6 November, our message to the next generation of business leaders is simple: your voice, your energy, and your ideas matter to the future of this province. If you are under 25 and have spent the last two years or less pushing your products past our borders or building the services that help others do so, we want to see you. The Eastern Cape economy needs your fearlessness to future-proof its place in the world. Let us stand behind you, walk the journey with you, and help you take your local innovations to the global stage.

For more information on the Exporters Development Programme or the Exporter of the Year awards, visit www.exportersec.co.za. Entries for the Awards close 7 August.

By Quintin Levey, Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman

Published in The Herald, July 2026