Isuzu Motors South Africa has partnered with the Propella Business Centre in Nelson Mandela Bay through an investment into the industrial hub.
The three-year partnership multi-million rand investment was announced at the Propella Business Centre on Tuesday.
Isuzu's Director for Corporate Affairs, Denise van Huyssteen, said the support from the Japanese manufacturer would be directed at the development of innovating projects within the hub.
"Since the launch of Isuzu Motors South Africa in January this year, the company has been focused on building a sustainable business for the long-term. Developing meaningful and impactful partnerships which positively impact the community, forms a critical part of this strategy," she said.
Van Huyssteen said the company was always looking for different ways to offer alternative creative and innovative solutions while also being part of transformation and growth of the economy, especially the local economy.
"And as we look at the community around us, we want to find ways of making a difference by truly empowering people. Propella thinks like this too - which makes them an ideal partner for us,".
Propella Board Member, Ricardo Dames, said there were a number of similar organisations also competing for funding.
He said the support from Isuzu Motors South Africa would go a long way in helping them sustain their operations in the industrial incubation programmes.
"We have always prided ourselves with being a private sector incubator supported by the private sector for private sector development as well. This partnership with Isuzu has been a just in time solution for us as well. We agonised last year about around possible funding sources and when we started the conversation with Isuzu we were quite happy that there was some intent from their side. We were amazed at the level of support they have provided," he said.
Isuzu has also donated an Isuzu bakkie to Propella, which will be used for industry visits by Propella staff as well as the transportation of materials as needed.
Propella Business Incubation Manager Anita Palmer said the vehicle would make it possible for the company to onboard new projects like the smart city vertical Urban Farm.
"The vehicle would be utilised to take the product to market and will essentially enable us to develop a business-in-a-box concept,".
