Eastern Cape Premier, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, highlighted the sector’s role in creating sustainable economic growth and employment. By driving industrial development and fostering skills within the province, the Oceans Economy is seen as a vital contributor to broader socioeconomic resilience.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, leading the Small Business Development portfolio, further emphasised the potential of this sector to become a significant job creator, particularly in rural municipalities along the coastline. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She expressed optimism about the success of the G20 launch day, which included the opening of an entrepreneurship incubator at Nelson Mandela University’s North Campus and a gala dinner to reflect on key achievements.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A collaborative vision for economic growth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In her address at the gala dinner, Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Councillor Babalwa Lobishe, stressed the importance of intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder collaboration in maximising the maritime economy’s potential. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n She applauded initiatives aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and supporting emerging businesses, highlighting the role of key governmental schemes like the Sector Specific Assistance Scheme and the Export Market and Investment Assistance Scheme. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Our coastline is a jewel of the Eastern Cape, offering immense potential for inclusive and sustainable growth,” the Mayor noted, reaffirming Nelson Mandela Bay’s strategic status as a maritime hub. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n She tied these efforts to South Africa’s G20 Presidency theme, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” calling for unity in building interconnected economic ecosystems.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving entrepreneurial momentum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The G20 roadshow’s significant milestone was the inauguration of the entrepreneurship incubator. Outlining its goals, Ndabeni-Abrahams passionately highlighted the importance of supporting start-ups beyond funding, ensuring businesses thrive through mentorship and regulatory compliance. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n “True change is built through determination and grit,” the minister emphasised. “We must foster resilient entrepreneurs who seize opportunities to transform our economy while ensuring compliance to avoid unnecessary shutdowns.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Pulleng Moleko, Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre at Nelson Mandela University, and Chairperson of the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), Nonzuzo Makanda, joined the programme to affirm the importance of innovation-driven enterprises. They stressed the value of business incubators in catalysing start-up growth and job creation, particularly for young entrepreneurs.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rising to the G20 Presidency challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keynote speakers throughout the event reflected on South Africa’s unique position as host of the G20 Summit. Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Narend Singh, called the event a “once-in-20-years’ milestone” for the nation, emphasising the unparalleled opportunity to attract both global investment and local development resources. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ndabeni-Abrahams highlighted the themes of growth, industrialisation, and inclusivity: “To rebuild what we’ve lost, we must reclaim ownership of our economy through entrepreneurship,” she said. She further outlined measures for tackling systemic challenges such as limited market access and early-stage funding, especially for Eastern Cape start-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The G20 Provincial Roadshow launched in Gqeberha emphasized Eastern Cape’s Oceans Economy, fostering industrial growth and entrepreneurship to create jobs and support sustainable development 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the recent launch of the G20 Provincial Roadshow at the Nelson Mandela Bay Yacht Club, key stakeholders emphasised the potential of the Eastern Cape's Oceans Economy. From left are Nonkqubela Pieters (MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform), Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams (Minister of Small Business Development), Oscar Mabuyane (Premier of the Eastern Cape), Babalwa Lobishe (Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay), and Eugene Johnson (Nelson Mandela Bay Speaker of Council). PHOTO: SUPPLIED","article_media_icon":"1","article_template":"news","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"G20 provincial roadshow launch promotes Eastern Cape's Oceans Economy","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":["znG20_P1","znG20_P2"],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[7926,93],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-54329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-economy","tag-featured"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Minister](\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/494155875_1106412494_97910.jpg\")