PORT ELIZABETH printing and stationery company Valmac has taken the lead in Black Economic Empowerment in the local Printing and Stationery industry. Valmac is one of the first major printing and stationery companies in the Nelson Mandela Metro to sell the majority of its shares to Black Stakeholders. As of the beginning of August, the controlling shareholders of Valmac (Pty) Ltd are Zonwabise Resort Holdings and Milly Navsaria who together hold 51 per cent. The sale of the majority of the shares in Valmac to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partners was accompanied by the consolidation of the operations of Valmac Zonwabise and Valmac, according to Navsaria. “Given the success of Valmac Zonwabise, which was effectively the marketing arm of the Valmac Group, it was a natural step to merge the two operations. It is thanks to the support we have enjoyed as Valmac Zonwabise from both the private, corporate and government sectors that we have been able to take the next step in empowerment,” says Navsaria. “We are now strategically well positioned to do business with all parastatals, municipal offices and companies committed to empowerment procurement” he adds. Valmac Zonwabise was formed as the first step in a plan to fully empower Valmac, says Director Arthur Rump. “All the shareholders are committed to empowerment, but we realise that it is a process that has to be carefully managed. The consolidation of the two operations is an important milestone,” he says. “Zonwabise is taking an active role in Valmac,” adds director Bongi Siwisa. “We are not just passive investors and are going out there, to actively market the printing and other services of Valmac while learning as much as we can about the business,” she says. There are plans to increase the BEE shareholding over time. “At present, all the existing Valmac partners are still actively involved in the business. We remain committed to providing a quality service and to further empowering our BEE partners and staff through training and skills transfer,” says Rump.