Coega named as national award winner

THE Coega Development Corporation has received another accolade by clinching the most empowered enterprise award at the second annual South African Premier Business Awards.

The awards ceremony, at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening, was hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry in partnership with Proudly South African and Brand South Africa.

"Coega emerged as winner in the category for parastatals' empowerment activities and commitment to empowering communities," corporation marketing and communications head Ayanda Vilakazi said yesterday.

"The award and recognition is humbling, but not central to our ethos."

The purpose of setting up the award programme is to encourage and promote compliance with broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE).

Vilakazi said Coega's objective was to include a benchmark of 35% SMME participation in all its projects.

Last year, SMMEs benefited from 41% of the overall share of supply-chain business created by the CDC for mainly infrastructure and construction sector work.

Vilakazi said winning the SA Premier Business Award came shortly after the CDC was recognised as the country's top achieving government parastatal/agency for 2013 at the national business awards in November.

"We have had quite an exciting run over the past six months. Naturally, this is recognition of hard work paying off, but the job is far from done," he said.

"The future of Nelson Mandela Bay, the Eastern Cape and even South Africa hinges partly on the catalytic role Coega has to play in plotting a diversified industrial future that prioritises investment, people and community."

The finalists and winners for the Premier Business Awards were chosen by an independent and specialist panel of judges from business, government, organised labour and community constituencies. - Business Reporter