Bay gains investment momentum as Chamber Trade Desk marks major milestone
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Trade and Investment Desk has tracked nearly 50 investment and expansion opportunities, forged strategic international partnerships and positioned Nelson Mandela Bay before global investors in just two years, marking a significant milestone in the region’s drive to attract investment and stimulate economic growth.
Established to position Nelson Mandela Bay as the investment destination of choice on the African continent, the Trade & Investment Desk serves as a catalyst for investment promotion, business expansion, international trade and economic collaboration.
Over the past two years, the Desk has delivered several strategic milestones that have strengthened the metro’s investment proposition and expanded its international footprint.
Among its key achievements are the establishment of the Bay of Opportunity Portal as a dedicated investment platform; the production of two promotional videos showcasing Nelson Mandela Bay’s competitive advantages; representing the metro at TICAD 2025 in Japan; exhibiting at the 2025 NAACAM Auto Show; coordinating the successful Bay of Opportunity investment roadshows in Johannesburg and Cape Town; and developing the Made in the Bay region-of-origin brand to promote locally produced products and services.
The Desk has also concluded Memorandum of Understanding with the Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in South Africa, while developing collaborative work programmes with several international chambers, embassies and strategic partners.
In addition, it has hosted more than 15 national and international inward investment missions, completed a comprehensive Economic Overview Report for Nelson Mandela Bay, produced the Bay of Opportunity Investment Publication, undertaken more than 10 business surveys on critical economic issues, provided evidence-based business input into the national workstream on Special Economic Zone incentives and management, and developed a pipeline of high-impact investment projects for the city-region.
Importantly, the Trade and Investment Desk is currently tracking 28 announced or pledged investment and business expansion projects, together with 22 additional investment opportunities under development, while also supporting the successful establishment and expansion of two major investment projects within the metro.
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Chief Growth Officer Lunga Mjodo said attracting investment had become one of the most important economic imperatives for the metro, particularly against the backdrop of slow economic growth, persistently high unemployment and increasing global competition for investment capital.
“Investment does not happen by chance. It requires deliberate relationship-building, credible market intelligence, strategic partnerships and a compelling investment proposition. Over the past two years, the Trade and Investment Desk has focused on laying those foundations by connecting Nelson Mandela Bay to international markets, showcasing our competitive advantages and creating opportunities that can translate into new investment, business expansion and ultimately jobs.”
Mjodo said the milestone demonstrated what could be achieved when business, government and development partners worked together with a shared vision.
“Our objective has always been to position the Bay as a globally competitive investment destination. Every investment mission we host, every international partnership we conclude and every investor we engage strengthens confidence in our region. While there is still much work ahead, we have established a strong platform from which to accelerate investment attraction and support the long-term growth of our local economy.”
He said the Chamber would continue to strengthen the metro’s competitiveness by expanding international partnerships, supporting investor facilitation, promoting local businesses and unlocking new economic opportunities that contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber thanked its Trade and Investment Desk partners, BDO South Africa, Rand Merchant Bank and Sovereign Foods, together with government, industry associations, international chambers of commerce, diplomatic missions and development organisations whose collaboration has been instrumental in advancing the Desk’s work over the past two years.
