Nelson Mandela Bay: Sovereign has renewed its strategic partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Trade and Investment Desk, reinforcing private sector support for efforts to attract investment, unlock business expansion and strengthen Nelson Mandela Bay’s economic competitiveness.
The renewed commitment follows two years of significant milestones by the Chamber’s Trade and Investment Desk, which has established itself as a dedicated platform for investment promotion and economic collaboration. Since its establishment in 2024, the Desk has tracked nearly 50 investment and business expansion opportunities, facilitated more than 15 national and international inward investment missions, developed the Bay of Opportunity investment platform, launched the Made in the Bay region-of-origin brand and forged strategic partnerships with international chambers of commerce to strengthen Nelson Mandela Bay’s global investment profile.
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Chief Executive Officer, Denise van Huyssteen said Sovereign's decision to renew its partnership reflected growing confidence in the Chamber's long-term strategy to position Nelson Mandela Bay as a destination for investment, business expansion and job creation.
“Investment attraction is a long-term endeavour that depends on consistency, credibility and strong partnerships. Sovereign's decision to renew its support sends a powerful message that the private sector believes in the work being undertaken to position Nelson Mandela Bay as a globally competitive investment destination.
“This partnership represents a shared commitment to unlocking the potential of the Bay of Opportunity. Every investor we engage, every international partnership we establish and every opportunity we unlock helps to diversify and grow our local economy,” she said.
Sovereign’s Chief Executive Officer, Chris Coombes said the company was proud to continue supporting an initiative that contributes to the long-term prosperity of the Eastern Cape.
“As a company with deep roots in the Eastern Cape, we recognise that a strong regional economy benefits businesses, communities and future generations alike. The Trade and Investment Desk is playing an important role in promoting Nelson Mandela Bay as an attractive place to invest, and we are pleased to continue supporting an initiative that encourages economic growth, business confidence and job creation.”
Sovereign is one of South Africa’s largest poultry producers and a significant contributor to the local economy, with deep roots in the Eastern Cape. The company generates approximately R6.3 billion in annual turnover, provides employment for around 4500 people and produces close to 2 million chickens per week, supplying customers across South Africa as well as international export markets.
As a major local employer, producer and exporter, Sovereign plays an important role in supporting economic activity, job creation and the broader development of Nelson Mandela Bay. The company is also a proud participant in the Chamber’s Made in the Bay campaign, which showcases the region’s products, businesses and economic capabilities to local and international markets.
Over the past two years, the Trade and Investment Desk has expanded its role beyond investor facilitation to become a catalyst for regional investment promotion and economic development. In addition to coordinating inward investment missions, the Desk has produced a comprehensive Economic Overview Report for Nelson Mandela Bay, led successful Bay of Opportunity investment roadshows in Johannesburg and Cape Town, represented the metro at international investment platforms including TICAD 2025 in Japan, an exploratory visit to Ukraine, contributed evidence-based business input to national policy discussions on Special Economic Zone incentives and developed a pipeline of strategic investment projects for the city-region.
The Desk is currently tracking 28 announced or pledged investment and business expansion projects, together with a further 22 investment opportunities under development, while supporting investor facilitation and business expansion initiatives across a range of priority sectors.
The renewed partnership with Sovereign will enable the Chamber to build on this momentum through targeted investor engagement, strengthened international partnerships and strategic investment promotion initiatives that position Nelson Mandela Bay as a globally competitive destination for investment, while unlocking new opportunities for businesses to grow, invest and create jobs.
