Top business achievers recognised

Jordaan foresees a five-year ‘golden period’

HONOURED at an awards ceremony yesterday for being the lifeblood of the Nelson Mandela Bay economy, businesses in the region were called on to help take the city to a brighter economic future.

At the NMBM Top 50 Awards breakfast in Newton Park, mayor Danny Jordaan and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation presented awards to 50 of the city’s businesses.

This was in recognition of their investments in the city and contribution to the economy and job creation.

Painting a picture of an efficient and well-run city with a thriving economy and enough jobs for residents, Jordaan called on businesses to be part of a five-year visionary period, which he termed the golden period.

“Let’s consider for a moment what might be, what could be, if we were able here and now, with the chemistry between us, to create something bold and new that we can achieve together,” Jordaan said.

“Because in essence the engine room of this metro is sitting [here].”

He saw the next five years as “a period of economic and organisational development, [when] we would be able to turn the Bay around”.

It would be a period in which the institution is reinvigorated, is purged of corruption and is mainly the machine of efficiency in serving this development.

The Boardwalk and Coega industrial development zones were honoured as top investors, while the Sundays River Citrus Company and Jendamark Automation walked away with awards in the top exporters category.

Engineering industry newcomer Bulelwa Msizi was the sole recipient in the new entrepreneur category, with Yenza Manufacturing’s Themba Mtati, Eastern Cape Motors’ Stephen Theodosiou and the Headbush family’s Sello Headbush recognised among the top long-standing entrepreneurs.

McWilliams and Elliot, the city’s oldest legal firm, was also honoured in this category.

Other long-standing investors honoured included Cerebos and PPC Cement.

Hygiene and cleaning company Supercare and sealing company Federal and Mogul were recognised as top employers, while Lighting Innovations and Air Products were honoured in the new investor category.

The top achievers category, which honours companies whose achievements cut across multiple categories, included Ford SA, General Motors SA, Volkswagen SA, Continental Tyre SA, Shatterprufe and Aspen.

ECDC western regional manager Mlungiseleli Zilimbola congratulated the recipients.