Welcome to the new year – and yes, we do welcome it, despite the rough waters that have brought us here over the past two years.
Some of us were able to shut down our computers, close the office door and turn our attention to friends and family. We are the lucky ones, and we give thanks for such mercies.
At the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone, we were all quickly back into work mode. One of the matters on our agenda this year is our brand and marketing strategy. How do we tell the world what we are doing and why? It’s seemingly a simple answer. But we have several people in that world with different interests, and we need to ensure we engage with you. If you’re a potential investor – big or small, you will want to know how to cut through the red tape and make it easy to serve your customers. Our SME Co-Lab Centre, a free, WiFi-enabled office space to help start-up businesses get going, is what you want to hear about. Our Freeport benefits that could save you customs duties will be a top priority for manufacturers. If you are a resident, you want to hear about how we run the zone to ensure it does not harm the environment and about our future plans.
Of course, telling people what we are doing and offering comes with a price. A colleague tells the story about meeting with her chairperson and going through the company’s budget for the next three years. His only question was, “Why do you need to spend money to tell people what you do? Surely, just doing what you do is enough?”
And, yes, I do ask myself that same question. And in an ideal world, that might be the case. But we’re trying to do something more than signing up investors and getting on with infrastructure development. We need to create an atmosphere where people can breathe the scent of success. We need that balance between engaging positively with the needs of the residential and business community of Saldanha Bay and the process of bringing about a new economic reality as enshrined in our Bill of Rights – one that does indeed lead to sustainable economic revival for all.
Our task is not simply to help build a better zone but to help create a more positive and hopeful vision of our community’s future. It is a challenging task that will not happen overnight. But my colleagues and our major partners have shown a willingness to make this happen. I believe it can be done. And talking about it is part of it.
I’d like to congratulate the new editor of the Weslander, Maryke Swart, on her appointment. The newspaper provides a valuable connection with the people of Saldanha Bay and the stories of their life and work. We look forward to another year of talk, engagements and action.
