Industrial Zones

The Eastern Cape

INTRODUCTION:

The Eastern Cape’s growing economy is enabling the province to shift its focus on other areas of development where potential is felt.

The automotive industry remains one of the province’s most established industries. Some of the most recent and significant investments include General Motors South Africa’s R700 million contract to manufacture the Hummer H3 and the construction of Volkswagen South Africa’s R750 million paint shop.  In East London, Daimler Chrysler has invested millions in upgrading its facilities for the next generation of Mercedes Benz C-class passenger vehicles for world markets.

The automotive industry accounts for 7.1 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.  The other important areas of the Eastern Cape’s economy are agriculture, textiles, clothing and leather, wool processing, timber and transport and tourism.

The government’s countrywide Accelerated Growth and Shared Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA) is also taking a focus on the Eastern Cape. It is believed that this, together with the Coega and East London IDZ will help meet the demand for social infrastructure services such as electricity and water, provide efficient and competitive logistical infrastructure and facilitate the expansion of modern telecommunications.

Looking at the Eastern Cape’s employment rate, Stats SA’s unemployment figures show that unemployment in the province has dropped by 25.6 per cent in early 2006. The number of wealthy individuals in province has risen due to the increase in business growth, the property price, motor industry and tourism, as well as the infrastructure contracts provided by the Coega IDZ.

	Tourism & Information View the attractions and facilities which make the Eastern Cape a tourism hub in South Africa ...
	Lifestyle Guide See why the Eastern Cape is so sought after as a place to live, work and play ...
	History Archive The Eastern Cape is rich in history and the province forms the centre of many historical events ...

	About the Regions See the potential of the Eastern Cape as an investment destination as well as a library of maps and other media ...
	Industrial Zones View a breakdown and specific information on the Eastern Cape's industrial clusters ...
	Business Focus Find out why the Eastern Cape is an important centre of commerce for South Africa ...