THE Eastern Cape Export Symposium and Exhibition ended on a high note with a site visit to the flagship Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nelson Mandela Bay by a delegation from the Continental Energy and Infrastructure Investment Forum (CEIIF) on 21 August. The visit included an interactive seminar and a tour of the SEZ.
The visit brought the engaging three-day Eastern Cape Export Symposium and Exhibition, now in its seventh year, to a close. It featured two days of conferencing and exhibition at the East London International Convention Centre (ELICC) in KuGompo City.
The previous day’s programme included a visit by the CEIIF delegation to South Africa’s first operational industrial development zone, the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ). The delegation was warmly welcomed by ELIDZ executive officer Tembela Zweni and chief operations officer Ayanda Ramncwana at the ELIDZ Science and Technology Park.
The CEIIF delegation o included guests from Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At Coega, engagements centred on collective support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, with discussions focusing on the importance of initiating and executing bankable cross-border projects that leverage Africa’s collective strengths to drive rural, urban and global economic growth.
As an inward buying and investment mission, CEIIF aims to bridge the gap between Africa’s infrastructure needs and the capital, expertise and strategic partnerships required to address them. This mission aligns closely with Coega’s commitment to driving socio-economic progress through investment, infrastructure development, the expansion and promotion of intra-African trade, and strategic partnerships.
The Coega visit brought to an end an insightful and strategic platform that saw more than 400 business leaders, exporters, investors, policymakers and trade experts converge on KuGompo City, formerly East London, as the province intensifies its efforts to expand its presence in regional and international markets.
An initiative of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), the Eastern Cape Export Symposium and Exhibition also showcased the products of 60 aspiring exporters. Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane officially opened the event, which was attended by members of the Provincial Executive Council and senior government officials.
The symposium also attracted representatives from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the European Union and the British High Commission. Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau also delivered a ministerial address on 19 August, at the ELICC
