Nelson Mandela Bay will be the host venue for a global international film festival.
While full details are still being kept under wraps, Eastern Cape Economic Development MEC, Mcebisi Jonas, says further details will be made public in the coming weeks.
Speaking at a media briefing at the PE City Hall on Wednesday, Jonas said the Film Festival falls within his Department's broad economic strategy to promote investment and economic growth in the Eastern Cape's two Metropolitan Municipalities.
He said Nelson Mandela Bay had to be positioned as a global city to improve its competitiveness.
Jonas said his Department had adopted a joint investment strategy with the Metro which looks at a range of ways of promoting investment into the region.
"Specifically the core of it now is about repositioning the Metro globally and one of the things we have adopted is to say lets go for a global festival and we must attract big names. We also want to use this initiative to train the youth in this industry"
The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency says its backing the Film Festival project.
CEO, Luxolo Rubushe, says international trends are showing that city's themselves are becoming central to promoting tourism.
He says Nelson Mandela Bay is a jewel in the province, adding the Global Film Festival could become a signature event on the Metro's calendar.
"More importantly is also recognising the investment and employment creation as well as the socio economic development aspect that come with these kind of events. We are happy to be working with the Metro on this project" he said
