The reinvestment of General Motors earlier this year follows the heels of numerous other investments in this metropole, highlighting the overwhelming support for the city.

These additional investments, which totalled over R300 million, had resulted, amongst others, an increase in consumer goods and services and a dramatic rise in the value of property in the metro.

The Nelson Mandela Metropole mayor Nceba Faku highlighted that this economic growth needed to be translated into the creation of sustainable communities.

Projects highlighted in a recent publication include:

• Eskom’s pledge of R2,3 million for electricity to the proposed Alcan/Pechiney aluminium smelter; it, together with the Industrial Development Corporation, had also taken a 12,5% stake in the project, the single biggest foreign direct investment in the history of South Africa.
• The opening of a die-cast foundry by Bel-Essex in partnership with the Italian company Almec.
• Aspen Pharmacare’s establishment of a new oral dosage plant at an initial cost of R150 million.
• An investment of R48 million by Business Partners into old buildings and industrial complexes in the Eastern Cape.
• The R31 million upgrading of the terminals at Port Elizabeth airport.
• An investment of R25 million in capital equipment by Johnson Controls Automotive SA to allow for export contracts.
• The upgrading of the Protea Marine Hotel to the value of R20 million.
• Completion of a R7,6 million business centre in the Coega IDZ.
• A R7 million upgrade underway at the Port Elizabeth Abattoir.
• An investment of R4 million by Shatterprufe into black empowerment company Auto Encapsulators.
• The revamping of Clinsut at a cost of R3,4 million.
• An investment of R1 million by Waltons on the establishment of satellite retail store.
• SABMiller’s investment of R1 million in a corporate suite at St George’s Park.
• The R1 million facelift for the Aldo Scribante racetrack.