The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) is on track with the Eastern Cape from Above Exhibition in Germany. This year, the exhibition travels across Germany in collaboration with German Rail to showcase the Eastern Cape’s travel and business destination appeal.

The pictorial journey set off from Munich station in April and is currently visiting a number of cities such as Hannover, Bremen and Dusseldorf. The photographs are to be shown at six train stations for periods up to 19 days per station.

The exhibition passed through Munich Station from the April 20 to April 29 and the Düsseldorf station from May 5 to May 17. It is due in Bremen station from May 18 to May 31, Kiel station from June 2 to 18, Hannover from June 22 to July 7 and its final German destination is Mannheim station from 19 July to 12 August.

The photographic exhibition is scheduled to reach the final stop of Mannheim station in July where it will be stationed until July 23. The exhibition was launched at German’s Munich Airport in 2008.

This year, the exhibition’s kick-off coincides with the countdown to the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup to be held in South Africa. The timing of the exhibition is fortuitous and is expected to bolster South Africa’s marketing impact and draw Germans visiting the soccer spectacular to the province.

The photographic exhibition features 40 images with stunning panoramic views of the land of contrast that is the Eastern Cape. From the Hole-in-the-Wall in Pondoland north-eastwards to the Valley of Desolation in the Karoo and wildlife, the pictures capture it all.

The Eastern Cape boasts a proud history of being the birthplace of struggle icons such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu. Its heritage is also rooted in a rich Xhosa culture and its wildlife diversity. 

Leading photographers show of skill

The scenes were captured through the lens of Rob Pollock, Mike Holmes and John Costello, three of the province’s top photographers. The exhibition is boosted with the jazzy sounds created by South African musician Mfaniseni Thusi and his band.

In line with its mandate to promote the Eastern Cape as a tourist and investment destination, ECDC believes visitors to the province will see the investment potential that lies in this diverse province. ECDC facilitates the exhibition on behalf of the provincial government.

Germany is a significant trading trade and investment partner of the province. The German automotive sector is already among the pillars of the provincial economy, with thousands employed in Mercedes Benz in East London and Volkswagen in the Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth).

The Eastern Cape also has a history of strong ties with Germany with towns such as Stutterheim, Potsdam and Berlin being named after their European counterparts.