SAILING ALONG: Water sports form an important part of the ocean economy. Here yachts participate in the SAP World 505 Sailing Championships in Algoa Bay. Picture: MIKE HOLMES
Jordaan lists opportunities
MUNICIPAL leaders are eyeing the ocean economy as Nelson Mandela Bay’s next big economic opportunity, and are hoping to make significant strides within the next five years.
This is part of the city’s vision for “five golden years” for the Bay, a new catch phrase that signifies the political leaders’ hopes to revitalise and grow the city’s economy and create scores of new jobs.
However, it is unclear what would happen to these plans should a new leadership take power after the local government elections later this year.
Mayor Danny Jordaan met NMMU vice-chancellor Professor Derrick Swartz and representatives from the SA Maritime Safety Authority yesterday to further develop the metro’s plans to tap into the blue economy, positioning it as a niche centre for maritime activity.
Speaking after the meeting, Jordaan said the municipality was working with NMMU and the maritime industry to ensure everyone was moving in the same direction.
“From our side, as a metro, the advantage we have is that we have two ports,” he said.
“One is essentially an industrial port, the Port of Ngqura, and the other, the Port of PE, is where we’re looking at repositioning it to build small vessels.
“There are 30 000 ships passing our shores annually . . .
“The obvious question is how do we make sure that the metro also attracts some of those ships to replenish fuel or any other requirements that they have here in the Bay?”
A few maritime projects were being explored which could take the Bay to the next level and position it as an ocean economy hub.
The projects included a fish farm, boosting marine tourism through flagship projects such as restoring Bayworld, as well as mining oil and gas.
The final plans would be launched in May, Jordaan said. “We are looking at a total reorientation of the economy in the metro . . .
“We have to consider very seriously growing the economy and creating jobs,” he said.
“The key issue is to create financial stability and we have done that. We’re in a good space and investors are coming and wanting to invest.”
Budget and treasury political head Rory Riordan said the ocean economy was an “excellent opportunity for Nelson Mandela Bay to develop a second major economic area, after motor manufacturing”.
He said this in an Integrated Development Plan document detailing his hopes for development in the city over the next five years, which he calls the “golden period”.
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