Editor: Here is an excellent example of serendipity -The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has launched an initiative to identify goods Made in the Bay for consumers. In the same vein we just launched a dedicated tourism hub JUST for Gqeberha in MyGQ.co.za. Whilst over in Kariega the Kariega Online Skills Initiative was launched – supported and created by small local business and volunteers. Support Local – supporting local keeps the money in the Bay and helps reduce unemployment. Who needs inept government intervention or ‘support’? Apparently not these guys!
Read on for the NMBBC Made in the Bay Campaign
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has officially unveiled the Made in the Bay logo and brand identity, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to position Nelson Mandela Bay as a globally competitive centre for manufacturing, innovation, skills development, exports and investment.
As a strategic pillar of the Chamber’s established Bay of Opportunity initiative, Made in the Bay has been developed to showcase, celebrate and promote the products, services, innovations, skills and businesses that originate in Nelson Mandela Bay and compete successfully in markets across South Africa and internationally.
The launch introduces a distinctive region-of-origin brand that will serve as a powerful symbol of quality, innovation, sustainability and trust, while strengthening awareness of the metro’s economic capabilities and competitive advantages.
The newly unveiled visual identity has been carefully designed to reflect the character, diversity and ambitions of Nelson Mandela Bay. At its centre is a bold burgundy seal representing authenticity, quality and endorsement – a mark of excellence that signifies products, services and capabilities originating from the Bay. The colour palette also acknowledges the support and leadership of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber in developing and championing the initiative.
The defining visual element is the outline of Algoa Bay and the Bay’s coastline, chosen as a unifying symbol that encompasses the full diversity of the local economy. It represents the people, industries, communities, cultures and capabilities that collectively contribute to the region’s success.
Complementing this is a distinctive indigenous-inspired pattern that reflects the metro’s rich cultural heritage while acknowledging its longstanding legacy as one of Africa’s leading industrial, commercial, manufacturing, export and innovation hubs. The inviting blue ocean incorporated into the design symbolises untapped opportunity, boundless potential and a promising future, reinforcing the vision of Nelson Mandela Bay as a true Bay of Opportunity.
The initiative celebrates products that are manufactured, exported and innovated in the Bay, while recognising the businesses invested in the region and the people whose skills, talent and commitment continue to drive economic growth and industrial development.
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Chief Executive Officer Denise van Huyssteen said the launch represented far more than the unveiling of a new logo.
“Made in the Bay is a statement of confidence in Nelson Mandela Bay’s capabilities, its people and its future. It is about telling a powerful story of a Bay that designs, manufactures, innovates and exports products and services that compete with the best in the world,” she said.
Van Huyssteen said the initiative seeks to elevate the visibility of local businesses and strengthen the reputation of Nelson Mandela Bay as a preferred destination for investment, trade and economic opportunity.
“Made in the Bay creates a clear and compelling value proposition for multiple audiences. To incoming investors, it signals a coordinated and supportive business ecosystem with a competitive edge. To employers, it represents a capable and future-ready workforce. To foreign buyers and local consumers, it serves as a mark of trusted, innovative and responsibly produced products and services.
“For decades, businesses in our region have quietly built an impressive track record of manufacturing excellence, innovation and export success. Made in the Bay creates a unified platform to showcase those achievements, build local pride and help connect our products, services and expertise to new markets and opportunities.”
She said the initiative aligns closely with the Chamber’s broader economic development agenda, which includes advancing industrialisation, supporting innovation and manufacturing diversification, expanding exports, stimulating opportunities in the low-carbon and digital economies, strengthening tourism development, promoting entrepreneurship, attracting investment and driving inclusive economic growth.
Commenting on the launch, the Chamber’s Chief Growth Officer, Lunga Mjodo, said successful economies are built on strong identities and compelling stories.
“Made in the Bay gives the metro a recognisable mark that speaks to our quality, resilience, ingenuity and competitiveness. It positions Nelson Mandela Bay not simply as a place to invest, but as a place where world-class solutions are conceived, built and delivered,” said Mjodo.
He said the initiative would encourage greater support for local enterprises while reinforcing the importance of developing stronger local value chains.
“When businesses grow, exports increase and investment flows into our region, the benefits extend far beyond the factory floor. They translate into jobs, skills development, enterprise growth and stronger communities. Made in the Bay is ultimately about creating a stronger and more prosperous regional economy.”
Visual Identity
The newly launched visual identity has been designed to complement both the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and Bay of Opportunity brands, while providing a versatile and recognisable mark that can be used across product packaging, marketing material, digital platforms, trade exhibitions, business events and investment promotion initiatives.
Through the Made in the Bay brand, the Chamber aims to establish Nelson Mandela Bay as a recognised source of products, services and human capital synonymous with excellence, innovation, sustainability and trust.
Van Huyssteen said the initiative provides a collective identity for the region’s achievements and aspirations.
“Whether a product is manufactured, an innovation is developed, a business is rooted in Nelson Mandela Bay, or a service is exported to international markets, Made in the Bay provides a collective identity that celebrates its origin and the value it represents. It is an invitation to local and global audiences alike to recognise the extraordinary capabilities that exist within the Bay of Opportunity,” she said.
Two More Local is Lekker Initiatives:
MyGQ.co.za
MyGQ.co.za is a digital home dedicated entirely to showcasing the warmth, beauty, and diverse experiences of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Nelson Mandela Bay, and the greater Eastern Cape.
This isn’t just another corporate booking engine or a rigid tourism directory. MyGQ is a community-owned ecosystem built on a simple, powerful belief: “Together we can prevail”.
MyGQ was founded on a collaborative model. We believe that when local accommodation, transport, tour, and hospitality operators unite under a single banner, the entire local economy lifts. We want every operator in the Nelson Mandela Bay region to look at this platform and feel, “This belongs to us.”
Kariega Online Skills Initiative
To co-create sustainable futures for the Eastern Cape’s youth by building a future-ready generation that thrives in the global digital economy through modern, tech-enabled livelihoods.
Our mission is to bridge the gap between education and employment by equipping 100,000 unemployed youth with digital fluency, tourism micro-entrepreneurship, and AI-powered skills over the next 10 years. By fostering a proactive mindset and providing access to remote earning pathways—such as community management, virtual assistants and online teaching — we aim to empower participants to generate sustainable self-employment income and build economic independence outside traditional job markets.
Starting in Kariega (Uitenhage), a small town in the Eastern Cape, currently part of Nelson Mandela Bay. The population is around 330,000 people and the Metro’s unemployment rate is over 26%.
The future of UKariega’s youth depends on how well we help them build modern livelihoods outside traditional jobs. Let’s unite to co-create sustainable futures!
The pilot is run in partnership with Limekhaya High School, the Salvation Army Uitenhage and Herotel who sponsored a new Wifi Internet connection.
