The Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Cllr Babalwa Lobishe, today congratulated the Volkswagen Business Support Centre on its 15-year milestone, recognising its significant contribution to entrepreneurship development, job creation, supplier development and inclusive economic growth in Nelson Mandela Bay and beyond. The Executive Mayor delivered the message during the Centre’s 15th anniversary celebration held at the People’s Pavilion in Kariega.
Addressing representatives from government, organised labour, industry stakeholders, entrepreneurs and Volkswagen Group South Africa, Executive Mayor Lobishe described the achievement as a powerful example of how partnerships between business, government and communities can create meaningful economic opportunities and support South Africa’s development agenda.
“The Volkswagen Business Support Centre has spent the past fifteen years investing in the dreams, ambitions and potential of entrepreneurs. Through skills development, mentorship and enterprise support, the Centre has helped hundreds of businesses grow, create employment and contribute to the economic development of our region,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
The Executive Mayor noted that the Centre’s work directly supports national priorities around inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, localisation, employment and small business development. She further highlighted the Centre’s role in strengthening local supplier capabilities and enabling greater participation of emerging enterprises within South Africa’s automotive value chain.
“As Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, we recognise that sustainable economic growth requires strong partnerships between government and the private sector. Volkswagen Group South Africa continues to demonstrate responsible corporate citizenship through its commitment to enterprise and supplier development,” she added.
Executive Mayor Lobishe further acknowledged Kariega’s strategic role as one of South Africa’s leading automotive manufacturing hubs, noting that initiatives such as the Volkswagen Business Support Centre help ensure that the benefits of industrial development extend beyond factory operations and into local communities through entrepreneurship and business growth opportunities.
The mayor emphasised that the next phase of economic growth in Nelson Mandela Bay will require deeper collaboration between government, industry and communities, with increased focus on localisation, industrial innovation, supplier development and support for women, youth and black owned enterprises.
On behalf of the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay, Executive Mayor Lobishe congratulated the Volkswagen Business Support Centre, its leadership, mentors, partners and entrepreneurs on this significant achievement and wished the programme continued success in empowering future generations of business leaders.
EXECUTIVE MAYOR BABALWA LOBISHE SPEAKER NOTES
Programme Director,
Representatives of Volkswagen Group South Africa,
Representatives of national, provincial and local government,
Leaders and representatives of organised labour,
Business leaders and industry stakeholders,
Members of the small business and entrepreneurial community,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honour to join you as we celebrate 15 years of the Volkswagen Business Support Centre in Kariega.
This milestone is not only a celebration of longevity; it is a celebration of impact. It is also a powerful example of how business, government and communities can work together to advance South Africa’s development agenda. For fifteen years, the Centre has invested in the dreams, ambitions and potential of entrepreneurs from Nelson Mandela Bay and beyond. This initiative aligns strongly with the priorities of South Africa’s Seventh Administration, which has placed inclusive economic growth, job creation, industrialisation, localisation, youth employment and support for small businesses at the centre of government’s programme of action.
Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of any thriving economy. They create jobs, stimulate innovation, strengthen local supply chains and provide opportunities for communities to participate meaningfully in economic growth. This is fully aligned with government’s commitment to building an economy that is more inclusive, competitive and capable of generating employment at scale.
Through the Volkswagen Business Support Centre, hundreds of entrepreneurs have been equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to build sustainable businesses. Many of these enterprises have grown, created employment and contributed to the economic development of our region. Importantly, the Centre has helped develop the capabilities of local enterprises to participate more effectively in industrial value chains, supporting the national objective of increasing the contribution of small businesses to economic growth and employment.
As Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, we recognise that partnerships between government and the private sector are essential if we are to tackle unemployment, reduce inequality and build a more inclusive economy. Volkswagen Group South Africa continues to demonstrate what responsible corporate citizenship looks like through its commitment to enterprise and supplier development.
The work of the Volkswagen Business Support Centre also speaks directly to the strategic priorities of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. Through the Automotive Production and Development Programme and the South African Automotive Masterplan 2035, the DITC has prioritised localisation, supplier development, transformation, competitiveness and deeper participation of black owned, women owned and youth owned enterprises in the automotive value chain.
One of the key objectives of the updated South African automotive sector strategy is to increase local content, strengthen domestic supplier capabilities and create a more inclusive automotive ecosystem that supports industrial growth and employment. The Volkswagen Business Support Centre contributes meaningfully to these objectives by developing entrepreneurs, strengthening supplier readiness and creating pathways for emerging businesses to access opportunities within the broader manufacturing and automotive economy.
Kariega has long been recognised as an important manufacturing hub, not only for Nelson Mandela Bay but for South Africa. As the home of one of the country’s leading automotive manufacturing operations, it occupies a strategic position in South Africa’s industrial landscape. Initiatives such as the Volkswagen Business Support Centre ensure that the benefits of this industrial strength extend beyond factory gates and into our communities through entrepreneurship, supplier development and small business growth.
The Centre further advances national priorities around economic transformation by helping entrepreneurs build sustainable enterprises, improve competitiveness and access markets. These outcomes support government’s broader vision of creating resilient local economies, expanding industrial participation and ensuring that economic opportunities reach historically disadvantaged communities.
Today, we celebrate the entrepreneurs who took a chance on themselves, the mentors who shared their expertise, and Volkswagen Group South Africa for creating an enabling environment where businesses can grow and succeed.
As we reflect on the achievements of the past fifteen years, we must also look to the future. Nelson Mandela Bay’s economic success depends on our collective ability to support innovation, strengthen local enterprises, create sustainable jobs and unlock opportunities for young people, women and emerging entrepreneurs.
The next phase of South Africa’s growth will require even stronger collaboration between government, industry and communities. It will require us to deepen localisation, expand supplier development programmes, support industrial innovation and ensure that small businesses are integrated into high value sectors such as automotive manufacturing. The Volkswagen Business Support Centre provides a practical model of how these objectives can be achieved.
On behalf of the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay, I congratulate the Volkswagen Business Support Centre on this remarkable achievement and wish the programme continued success for many years to come. Together, we can continue building an economy that is inclusive, innovative, globally
competitive and capable of creating opportunities for all.
I thank you.
