Trade, Investment and Innovation
pioneering innovation
The Trade, Investment and Innovation business unit’s core mandate is to market Eastern Cape to domestic and international investors
and to ensure that existing investors (particularly those outside the Special Economic Zones) are provided with support needed to gro
their businesses in order to increase employment opportunities within the Eastern Cape. The business unit is further responsible for
promoting trade in order to increase exports from the Eastern Cape and position ECDC as an implementing agent for government to
government economic development initiatives.
Provides local firms with export advice and information, export-readiness tools and other data relating to marketing their goods and services internationally
Facilitates foreign and local direct investment into the Eastern Cape, and to support existing investors in order to retain their provincial presence.
Provides project support, which is early-stage support for innovative business concepts and ideas in order to advance these to commercialization stage
Craft Shop
The Eastern Cape Craft Collection shop has a curated selection of high quality craft products.
Trade Missions within Africa
ECDC has made a renewed focus on promoting trade in Africa for SMMEs, embracing Africa trade and African renaissance.
Exporter Development
The Exporters Development Programme is aimed at assisting local companies to start exporting.
The InvestSA One Stop Shop initiative is geared toward providing investors with services to fast-track projects and to reduce government red tape when establishing a business. It is part of national government’s drive to become investor-friendly and to improve the business environment by lowering the cost of doing business as well as making the process easier.
The One-Stop Shop is envisaged to house government entities such as the South African Revenue Service (to help with customs and tax), Home Affairs, Environmental Affairs, Eskom and the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission under one roof. An investor can make an appointment, meet a government representative and be guided by the representative through the process of setting up a business.
The One Stop Shops simplifies administrative procedures for issuing business approvals, permits and licenses and thereby remove bottlenecks that investors may face in establishing and running businesses. One-Stop Shops have been rolled out in Tshwane in Gauteng (national office), Cape Town in the Western Cape and eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal.
