Hope on the agenda for Exporters Eastern Cape

Hope on the agenda for Exporters Eastern Cape

Sharing a message of hope and resilience, Exporters Eastern Cape successfully hosted its 2021 AGM on Thursday, 15 July by inspiring member companies to keep going during turbulent socio-economic times.

The 41st Exporters Eastern Cape AGM was presented online, with Neil Barker, Managing Director of Oracle Media and Head of the Marketing Portfolio at Exporters Eastern Cape as the Master of Ceremonies for the event and special guest speaker Jean de Villiers, former Springbok Rugby Captain and Citadel Head of Philanthropy, who compared being in business to the professional rugby environment. The event was sponsored by Standard Bank.

While he is known for making his debut as a Springbok at the age of 21, going on to play 109 matches for South Africa and receiving many other accolades, not everyone knows that De Villiers had six knee operations, dislocated his shoulder, and sustained several other injuries over the years.

“When I paint that picture, it is different to the glory and successes in my career. Adversity is a given – it doesn’t matter if it’s on the rugby field or in business. It is in times of adversity that you have to decide if you are going to lie down and let it get the best of you or stand up, learn from the experience and get better,” said De Villiers.

He advised the Exporters Eastern Cape member companies to surround themselves with strong team members in business whom they can trust and are focussed on achieving the same goals.

He encouraged them to make South Africa great. “The small differences we make in our businesses and lives, can collectively have a big impact. Never give up on that vision. Inspiration is all around us, just keep your eyes open and you will find it,” said De Villiers.

Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman Quintin Levey highlighted some wins over the past year for the organisation, which had to adapt to the pandemic conditions in the country.

Exporters Eastern Cape continued to build relationships with key stakeholders and alliance partners, including playing an instrumental role in the establishment of the Export Forum and Collaboration Forum – where public and private role players meet to expedite economic progress in the Eastern Cape.

“We did see the effects of the economy on our membership fees coming in and sponsorships, but we thank everyone who has supported us during a challenging year. Membership fees will not increase for the new year,” said Levey.

For the most part events were hosted online in 2020/2021, which included various panel discussions, webinars and virtual factory tours. Other wins included the successful hosting of the Exporters Development Programme, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.

Exporters Eastern Cape is also in the process of registering as an PBO and the Exporter of the Year Awards 2021 also received the most entrants since 2013.

New Exporters Eastern Cape committee members elected:

  • Deon Joubert – SJM Flex SA
  • Andre Swartbooi – Acoustex Group
  • Lee-Anne Vasi – Nelson Mandela University Business School
  • Loyiso Nyengule – Standard Bank

 

Full 2021/2022 Committee:

  • Quintin Levey (KPMG) – Chairman
  • Deon Joubert (SJM FLex SA) – Vice-Chair
  • Pravika Chetty (Lumotech) – Treasurer
  • Andre Swartbook (Acoustex Group) – Secretary
  • Neil Barker (Oracle Media) – Head of Marketing Portfolio
  • Loudeaux Minnie (LX Events Management) – Head of Events Portfolio
  • Lee-Anne Vasi (Nelson Mandela University Business School) – Head of Membership Portfolio
  • Brenden Adriaanzen (DG Incentives) – Marketing
  • Siphokazi Ngombane (NMB Municipality) – Event
  • Greg Billson (Enterprise Development Consultants) – Leadership
  • Ronel Marais (VWSA) – Finance
  • Loyiso Nyengule (Standard Bank) – Membership
  • Oyama Sidlabane (Lizwe Fuels) – Membership
Durban Announced as the New Host of Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021)

Durban Announced as the New Host of Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021)

Dates rescheduled to 15-21 November 2021

 

The second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021) has been rescheduled to take place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from 15 to 21 November 2021.  The Trade Fair was previously due to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 8 to 14 December 2021.

The decision to move the Trade Fair to Durban was made by the Advisory Council of IATF2021 at its 10th meeting held virtually on 25 May 2021. This decision was arrived at after formal consultations with the Government of Rwanda, who indicated that logistical constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic had adversely affected the progress of construction of a new facility to host the event.

“Relocating IATF2021 to Durban saves us time on the calendar and will enable African countries and corporates, as part of their recovery strategy, to take full advantage of the Trade Fair, which is also an important component of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement under which trading commenced this year.

“Having undertaken a comprehensive assessment of the measures that are being taken by the AU and Afreximbank under the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) as well as other initiatives to procure vaccines for the continent, we believe that a significant number of people would have been vaccinated by November and this will allow us to have a successful event. We will continue working with the Government of South Africa to ensure that all the COVID-19 measures are complied with during the Trade Fair as the safety of both residents and visitors is paramount.

“We congratulate the Government of the Republic of South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and thank them for the swift efforts that are being made to ensure that IATF2021 safely accommodates the growing number of participating governments, exhibitors, buyers, conference delegates, and visitors that have confirmed their participation in the event,” added Chief Obasanjo.

The Trade Fair will focus on the following sectors:

  • Agriculture & Agro-processing;
  • Automotive;
  • Footwear, Leather & Textile;
  • Construction & Infrastructure Development;
  • Consumer goods (White Goods);
  • Energy & Power;
  • Engineering;
  • Health Care & Pharmaceuticals;
  • Heavy Industries & Light Manufacturing;
  • ICT & Innovation;
  • Logistics;
  • Financial Institutions; &
  • Mining

More information can be obtained on http://www.intrafricantradefair.com

National Pavilion application forms and guidelines can be downloaded via the dti website: http://www.thedti.gov.za/trade_investment/emia_national_pavilions.jsp

The deadline date for the submission of complete National Pavilion application forms is 9 July 2021

For further clarity or inquiries kindly feel free to contact Mr Radebe:

Mr M.J Radebe

Trade Invest Africa: Trade Facilitation

Assistant Director

TISA: Division of the dti

Tel:+27 (0) 12 394 5791

email: MoRadebe@thedti.gov.za

 

Transnet reopens Cookhouse-Blaney Railway Line

Transnet reopens Cookhouse-Blaney Railway Line

Following the meeting that the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber had with the executive management team from Transnet, they were given the following update.

The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has reopened the Cookhouse-Blaney railway line following extensive rehabilitation work that was recently carried out. The line has been unused for the last 5 years for freight and in 2018, it was closed by the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) due to various maintenance concerns.

This railway line which is over 200 km long, traverses through three local municipalities, two district municipalities and a metro municipality namely the Blue Crane, Raymond Mhlaba, Amahlathi local municipalities; Amathole and Sarah Baartman District Municipalities and Buffalo City Metro Municipality.

The rehabilitation work that has been carried out has been inspired by the renewed interest shown by the business community to transport certain commodities by rail between Port Elizabeth and East London. It also forms part of Transnet’s strategy to develop the region.

Due to interest in the use of the line, a significant R26 million has been used to refurbish the rail infrastructure, to a carrying capacity of 18 tons/axle. This infrastructure has a volume projection of 300 000 tons per annum. It is envisaged that it will provide an important in-bound transit on rail between the East London IDZ and the Coega IDZ, as well as create an escape route for the Port Elizabeth main line in case of any incident between Cookhouse and De Aar.

The opening of the branch line will contribute to much-needed increased volumes and revenue, enable production, trade and rural access to markets, thus enhancing regional and global connectivity and integration. This initiative has created short-term employment for communities through which the line traverses. To date, a total of 100 direct jobs were created during the process of rehabilitation.

A loaded container test train ran on the newly refurbished branch line on 30 June 2021 successfully. The other potential traffic for the Cookhouse-Blaney line are:
• Beer and Fast Moving Consumer Goods from Port Elizabeth to East London and region
• Cement from Port Elizabeth
• Automotive components to and from East London
• Automotives

Objectives of the Cookhouse-Blaney line:
• To contribute to lowering the cost of doing business in the Eastern Cape Province.
• To enable economic growth and ensuring security of supply through the provision of appropriate rail infrastructure in a cost-effective and efficient manner
• To provide an enabling environment for emerging miners in the province.
• To stimulate the agriculture sector
• To focus on densification of freight on the rail line
• To create a competitive link to the rest of the country

Its impact on the Eastern Cape Province:
• Reduction of the operational costs in the transport system;
• Migrating rail friendly cargo from Road-to-Rail, thus reducing national and provincial road maintenance costs
• Resuscitation of the economic and social activities in the small marginalised towns
• Economic development and growth in the agriculture, mining and transport sectors
• Support and enable the growth and development of the Eastern Cape manufacturing sector and grow the Province’s export footprint;
• Reduction of the provincial carbon emissions
• Creation of direct and indirect job opportunities
• Skills development

MEDIA RELEASE BY THE NELSON MANDELA BAY BUSINESS CHAMBER

TICKETS AVAILABLE: Exporter of the Year 2021 Online Awards Event

TICKETS AVAILABLE: Exporter of the Year 2021 Online Awards Event

SAVE-THE-DATE AND BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

 

Friday, 20 August 2021 at 18:00
Tickets: R250 per person

The awards evening promises to be a memorable celebration of exporting excellence in the province. The online event will be a blend of live streaming, awards announcements, and pre-recorded speeches.

It promises to offer the same appreciation of local value, superb entertainment, and attendance prizes that exporters have become accustomed to over the years at the awards evening, and will of course, also include a few exciting surprises.

Awards will be awarded in the following categories: Exporter of the Year 2021 | OEM | Corporate | Medium Business | Small Business | Service Provider | SJM Flex Environmental Award | IDC Job Creation Award.

For more information on sponsor benefits or to buy your ticket contact Suzanne at info@exportersec.co.za