Move to set up export desk in Sarah Baartman

The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality wants to establish an export desk in the Sarah Baartman district to be more accessible to the agricultural industry.

The move, which would bring the total number of export desks in the Eastern Cape to three, is part of the metro’s renewed partnership with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC).

Presenting to the economic development, tourism and agriculture portfolio committee on Friday, trade and investment director Lutho Nduvane said the aim was to create an enabling environment for businesses in the region and help to improve the metro’s economy.

“[Our department] in partnership with key stakeholders such as the ECDC, the business chamber and exporters club are trying to create an enabling environment for our exporters.

“We are of the view that this will improve the competitiveness of our local companies and their products,” he said.

Nduvane said they provided training to emerging exporters and assisted those registered to the helpdesk with Sars registrations.

However, he proposed that the municipality should take heed of the concerns of farmers in the region.

“Nelson Mandela Bay is surrounded by Sarah Baartman region; the work happens in Sarah Baartman, the production happens in Sarah Baartman, but they use our facilities for export purposes.

“This talks to the integration of our economies, in particular Nelson Mandela and Sarah Baartman,” he said.

“When there is a call that the Addo Road must be fixed, it is critical that the road is fixed, not only for Nelson Mandela Bay but for farmers in the area.”

Nduvane said the new helpdesk and the renewed partnership would help with training emerging exporters, among others.

“The ECDC has been in the trade and export space for quite some time; they have got financial resources, they will also provide us with information and analysis when required.”

He said the top export industries in the metro include:

● Transport equipment, which contributes about 41%;

● Metal products, machinery and household appliances – 18%;

● Furniture – 13%;

● Agriculture and hunting – 13%;

● Fuel, petroleum and rubber products – about 7%; and

● Textiles, clothing and food and beverages – 3%.

“The objective is to drive export growth in the region and to provide development assistance to aspiring exporters.”