The Uitenhage-Despatch Development Initiative (UDDI), a partnership between the Nelson Mandela Metro, the provincial government, Volkswagen SA, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the broader Uitenhage/Despatch community, has facilitated substantial developments for the region.

Based on the similar initiative in Wolfsburg, Germany, the initiative aims to reverse the economic decline of the area by creating jobs, promoting and developing SMMEs, attracting suppliers to Uitenhage and allowing the area to capitalise on its technology niche.

The UDDI had packaged major investment projects including an automotive supplier’s park, a business and innovation centre and bee farming and agricultural projects. A major economic/tourism project is also in the process of being identified which will enhance the appeal of the area.

The UDDI project is centred on six main areas:

• Automotive Cluster Unit – the aim is to establish Uitenhage as “the hub” of the Eastern Cape automotive manufacturing industry and the automotive centre of the metro.
• Skills Development and Placement Unit – the aim is to train and develop some 1000 people from the region over two years.
• Innovation Campus Unit – this division will pool ideas, financial capital, entrepreneurial knowledge, network and research in order to offer new business professional assistance.
• Urban Renewal Unit – this initiative aims to transform and revitalise the Uitenhage CBD and in particular Market Square. It will also include the upgrading of the historical railway sheds into an education, entertainment and technology centre. Over 2000 jobs are expected to be created through this venture.
• Industrial Park – this park will consolidate the necessary infrastructure in order to provide an integrated service to the motor industry. It will include a logistics hub with global communications and regional interfaces for component delivery and material supply.
• Techno Centre – this centre aims to be a turnkey educational and recreational facility that provides valuable hands-on learning experience.