By working closely with the Eastern Cape Provincial and National government to boost economic development for the region, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has identified sectors that will have the great impact on job creation, empowerment and growth.

Magwa Tea’s Dramatic Turnaround
Magwa Tea’s remarkable turnaround story continues, with the once-troubled estate yielding record-braking harvests of tea during the 2006/07 season.

With the entire estate currently under production – the first time this has happened in 16 years – a best-ever yield for the current year.
While Magwa has not yet turned a profit, indications for long-term sustainability are more promising than at any pint of the estate’s turbulent past.

ECDC Facilitation Multi-Million Rand Export Deals For Eastern Cape Business
Eastern Cape manufacturers are closing millions of rands worth of export deals, thanks to the behind-the-scenes work of the ECDC’s Trade and Promotion Unit.

The unit has spearheaded a series of trade missions over the few months, notably to Angola, Scandinavia, the Middle East, and Chicago and Detroit in the US, bringing local manufactures into direct contact with potential foreign trade partners.
Several partnership agreements have already been finalized, with more in the pipeline. One Port Elizabeth-based manufacturer, OPM tooling, has landed an annual contract to supply General Motors with Hummer components.
A separate mission to Sweden has led to other direct investment in the province, while another mission to the Middle East – a notoriously difficult market to crack – is also yielding promising signs of firm trade commitment.
ECDC’s Trade Promotion Unit facilitates exports from the Eastern Cape by showcasing its export potential. It also aims to increase the level and value of exports form the Eastern Cape pool of exporters, whole also improving these exporter’s access to markets.

Integrated Contractor Development Model (IECDM)
To address the challenges facing small and medium sized building contractors – most have a short lifespan due to problems with skills, financing and capacity – the ECDC, in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), took the initiative to develop an integrated development model for emerging construction industry contractors.
The Integrated Emerging Contractor Development Model (IECDM) is a holistic training model that comprises both theoretical and practical skills development. Based on internationally benchmarked research in the areas of business development, it adopts the principles of total quality management, the business performance scorecard approach and sustainable development.

The 24-month programme, piloted at five centres in the Eastern Cape, yield its first crop of graduates earlier this year – with astounding results. The contractors who successfully competed the programme all recorded a dramatic increase in sustainable capacity, with some contractors moving up three grades on the official Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) register.
Apart form intensive theoretical and on-site learning; emerging contractors were partnered with accredited construction mentors, carefully selected on the basis of knowledge, experience and an overall commitment to the mentor/protégé relationship.
The conclusion and recommendation that flow form the IECDM add substantial value and knowledge for the benefit of all involved in skills development, empowerment and capacity creation and development.