against a backdrop of big improvements in basic infrastructure and radical transformation in institutional agencies facilitating development and investment. This is according to the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) annual financial report released in East London. The report showed that export trade in the province rose by 22.45 per cent from R14,7-billion in 2000 to R18-billion in 2002. This constituted 7.4 per cent of the country’s total export trade. Major contributors to the province’s export trade were the motor and components manufacturing sector (40.6 per cent or R7.34-billion) followed by boilers, machinery and appliances (27.2 per cent or R4,9-billion) and the agriculture and textile sectors (6.1 per cent or R1,1-billion). Germany was the province’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 33 per cent of exports. It was followed by the United Kingdom (16 per cent) and the US (12 per cent). Trade with Asia is also growing fast, according to the report. One of the sectors showing the most rapid growth was the information and communication technologies sector, much of whose output was focused on the motor industry. The ECDC report indicated that tourism in the province was also on an exponential growth curve. It now accounts for 13 per cent of South Africa’s total tourism market, making it the fourth favourite destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. This growth had been sparked by major investments both in the western and eastern regions of the province. These included Shamwari and the Great Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth as well as the Nelson Mandela Museum in Umtata. From an investment perspective the ECDC reported that its own promotional activities during the 2001/02 financial year yielded direct private sector investment of R740-million, which led to the creation of 1 025 new jobs. Most of these investments were in the motor industry. In addition, ECDC disbursed loans for business development rose to R24,5-million, leading to the creation of some 2 800 jobs. ECDC chief executive officer Mcebisi Jonas said further direct private sector investment could be expected to accelerate in the province, spurred by the Coega IDZ project near Port Elizabeth, as well as the East London IDZ. He said the corporation’s trade promotion unit was working on 36 “probable” and 16 “possible” investment deals.