AS ordinary citizens who love living here and want to be part of realising the potential of Nelson Mandela Bay, how can we contribute to boosting the local economy and keeping people in jobs?
As individuals, we might not have the financial muscle of multinational corporations that bring investment and thousands of jobs to the Bay, but we can still make a difference by factoring “buy local” into our spending decisions, whether it’s a big-ticket new vehicle purchase or where you buy gifts over the festive season.
Auto manufacturing, and its impact through the value chain of its suppliers, is the bedrock of SA’s economy, and especially this metro, but competition from fully imported vehicles, albeit healthy, is also one of the industry’s key challenges to sustaining local investment and manufacturing employment.
Imported vehicles not linked to a local manufacturer don’t impact the supply chain and jobs as substantially as vehicles assembled (and even those imported) by SA-based manufacturers do, with an impact that ripples out more broadly to create spending power in retail, tourism, hospitality, the services sector and even the ability of people to pay school fees.
The bottom line – if you’re shopping for a new vehicle, try to look to local auto manufacturers, whether it’s a model they build here or one they import. You’ll be making a difference to the local economy and retaining jobs. Economies also grow from the bottom up – buy something from a local business, put money in their kitty that enables them to purchase supplies (hopefully locally) and make more goods to sell.
By buying, enjoying and talking about their product, you help to stimulate demand – and demand means they can make more, sell more, and create employment to meet demand.
The Business Chamber’s Entrepreneurship Desk is helping more than 350 local small businesses to grow and sustain their momentum through access to advice, information on opportunities and funding, training and mentoring.
Considering these businesses when looking for products and services is a good place to start.
In this season of gifting, consider putting products made in SA or in the Bay on your shopping list. It can be as simple as checking the product origin label in the supermarket for goods made in SA or choosing veggies grown here or locally harvested fish rather than imported produce (good for your environmental footprint too).
Shop at weekend craft and food markets or visit one of the permanent indoor markets where an array of products from numerous local entrepreneurs are gathered under one roof.
Thinking of putting that year-end bonus into new tyres or a new battery for your vehicle? Consider those manufactured in SA. We might think that our small efforts won’t make a difference, but a lot of small actions add up to a significant impact.
Denise van Huyssteen is the Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.
