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Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Retief Odendaal, could hardly contain his excitement when he helped turn the sod for a R1.5 bn investment in a distribution facility for the Shoprite Group.
Construction of the logistics distribution warehouse in Wells Estate will start in April, and is expected to create "800 temporary jobs during construction" and a "1 300 full-time jobs" when fully operational.
The project is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2024.
"This is a clear indication that Nelson Mandela Bay is open for business," Odendaal said in a statement.
"Investments of this magnitude give confidence that we are moving in the right direction as a city. The systems we have put in place to speed up business development, support, and close oversight of those systems have already yielded positive results," he added.
According to the statement, the investment is a partnership between Shoprite and Equites Property Fund, a JSE-listed specialist logistics property fund.
Equites Property Fund CEO, Andrea Taverna-Turisa said as a company they are excited about launching their next venture in the Eastern Cape.
Shoprite Chief Supply Chain Officer, Andrew Havinga said this project was not just an investment, 'it is about uplifting lives, creating opportunities."
"The facility will also open an opportunity for more SMME suppliers from the local market to benefit. We also understand the challenges that the country is facing like the drought, electricity, and emissions," he added.
Ward 60 councillor, Thembinkosi Mafana, also welcomed the Shoprite investment in his Ward.
"Thank you to Shoprite for this investment. This will go a long way in changing the lives of our people. I call on all other companies to invest more in our city," Mafana said.
