Eastern Cape and Jilin Province Deepen Economic Cooperation Through Strategic Business Engagement
- ECDC - Eastern Cape Development Corporation
- 7 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) hosted a high-level Business-to-Business (B2B) engagement session with the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Regent Hotel in East London on 23 October 2025. The engagement formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen economic diplomacy, diversify international markets for Eastern Cape businesses, and foster mutually beneficial partnerships between the province and China.
The session brought together business leaders, government representatives, and development agencies to explore new frontiers for trade and collaboration. Fruitful engagements were had with 11 businesses from the Eastern Cape and nine from Jilin Province, representing various industries. The Jilin delegation showcased expertise across sectors such as ICT, agriculture, biotechnology, property development, and infrastructure, while the Eastern Cape delegation featured a strong representation from the agroprocessing and agriculture sectors, which remain key drivers of the province’s economic landscape.
The discussions reflected a shared interest in skills transfer, joint innovation, and capacity building, with both parties identifying agriculture and digital technology as critical areas for potential collaboration. What also emerged during the session was that several Eastern Cape businesses already have existing partnerships with Chinese counterparts, underscoring the maturity of this growing bilateral relationship. The engagement played a pivotal role in solidifying the foundation for deeper cooperation, paving the way for sustained collaboration and tangible outcomes in the years ahead.
Premier Oscar Mabuyane joined the B2B session to receive feedback and engage with the participating business delegations. He reaffirmed the province’s commitment to deepening international partnerships that advance industrialisation and inclusive growth.
“Our partnership with Jilin is a strategic opportunity to harness knowledge, technology, and innovation aimed at driving the Eastern Cape’s development agenda. Jilin has demonstrated remarkable progress in agriculture and transport infrastructure, particularly with advancements such as their high-speed bullet train. We are equally focused on broadening the value add and value chains of our SMMEs to ensure that the benefits of trade and investment reach our communities and transform livelihoods. This collaboration is about exploring ways to build shared prosperity and change the economic trajectory of our province,” said Premier Mabuyane.
Accompanying the Premier were MEC Nonkqubela Pieters, MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe as well as Heads of Departments and Chief Executive Officers from various entities under the DEDEAT group. Ms. Lulama Mbobo-Vava, Acting CEO of the ECDC, was also part of the delegation, reaffirming the Corporation’s commitment to facilitating trade partnerships and investment linkages that position the Eastern Cape as a competitive player in the global economy.
The Eastern Cape–Jilin Province engagement underscored the power of collaborative dialogue in driving regional growth and unlocking new opportunities for local enterprises. It also reinforced the ECDC’s role as a catalyst for investment promotion, partnership development, and enterprise growth in the province. As the session concluded, the delegates expressed optimism that this renewed partnership will translate into concrete projects that will advance South Africa–China cooperation at a provincial level.
