SUCCESSES by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) have been highlighted by Eastern Cape premier Makhenkesi Stofile in his State of the Province address. According to the premier, the ECDC finalised 13 deals worth R725-million during 2001. These have the potential to create 1 100 jobs. The organisation is currently working on another 36 probable and 16 possible new investment deals. The ECDC also provided 158 loans to small, medium and micro-enterprises worth R12,9-million, creating about 1 300 employment opportunities. A new trade promotion unit to assist SMMEs to break into export markets has also been formed, with the initial focus on crafts and agricultural products. Stofile said major investments at Coega, the East London IDZ and on the Wild Coast "were all maturing at the same time". At the end of January 2002 national government announced the allocation of R5.03 billion to support the provision of infrastructure at Coega, thereby paving the way for the conclusion of negotiations on potential investment projects worth an estimated R14.5 billion, that could create 20,000 jobs over the next few years. “The Coega Development Corporation has now been granted a provisional IDZ operator’s licence. They are free to apply for a permanent license forthwith. Development at Port St John’s has also entered the operational stage. The East London IDZ is also making progress, having already secured two German investors: the Weizengold Brewery and a condom factory.,” he said.