The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber hosted delegates from the Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre and Bay Businesses on Tuesday, in a bid to highlight the Metro as an attractive investment destination.
According to a statement from the chamber, delegates and the NMB Business Chamber members had an opportunity to engage Indonesian delegates l through an information exchange and dialogue session.
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO, Nomkhita Mona, called the meeting productive and fruitful.
"The delegation indicated that a major Indonesian company in the food industry had expressed interest in setting up a manufacturing plant in South Africa. We will vigorously pursue such leads to facilitate investments into the city. It was exciting to hear the number of jobs such operations have created in two other African countries," she said.
Mona said the Indonesian delegates were led by Pontas Tobing.
She said Tobing's presentation indicated that Indonesia was the fourth most populous country in the world with a population of 250 million with the 16th largest economy in the world.
Mona said South Africa's major exports to Indonesia including chemical wood pulp (US$114m), gold (US$29m), ferrous waste and scrap (US$14m), copper (US$13m) and pears (US$11m).
She said the trade between the two countries had a potential to grow, adding, that Indonesia can be a significant export market for products and services from Nelson Mandela Bay.
"We must explore avenues that create export market access for Business Chamber members," Mona added.
She said a big concern expressed was that it was sometimes very difficult to invest in South Africa than other African countries.
"This is because the process of setting up an operation by a foreign company is stringent. In particular, the delegation noted that turn-around times are slow and that our country's Visa requirements are not as conducive as in other countries," she said.
Mona said South Africa should consider a similar policy to the Indonesian 30-day "No-Visa" requirement applicable to more than 170 as it also accounts for the good performance of its tourism sector.
"It would be good if South Africa could consider similar policies. In addition, it only takes two hours for an investor to set up shop in Indonesia," she said.
The Marketing Manager of SA Canvas Alan Millard, who also attended the meeting, described the engagement as very informative.
"It is very interesting to understand the Indonesian industry and their business hub and interests, there is an interest in our outdoor leisure market product from the Indonesian Trade Commission who will contact other businesses in the same industry and put them in contact with us," he said.
