The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has unveiled what is expected to become a massive investment in fruit production for the Chinese market. The investment involves China cultivating fruit on 500ha of land in the Alfred Nzo-municipality. This followed an agreement between the municipality and Shanghai-based Yebo Africa Trading Hall (Yath). The fruit would be sold in the US. "The province's abundant agricultural land has seen China survey the province for farming business opportunities to supplement its own scarce land resources," said ECDC spokesperson Ikhona Mvaphantsi.
Yath is an entity formed by Chinese businessmen to facilitate trade between Africa and China, and the company would open its doors for trade in March. Alfred Nzo development agency CEO Nandipa Bam said local farmers would benefit from the agreement. "We are looking at 500ha minimum and, since each farmer has about 10ha, about 50 farmers will benefit. "The project will bring job creation from primary production and spin-offs in packing, transportation and skills development.
ECDC development services executive manager Noludwe Ncokazi said Eastern Cape businesses could benefit from trade with China, if they capitalised on their competitive advantages to leverage opportunities the massive Chinese economy presented. "China is setting the pace for manufacturing of clothing and electronic goods," Ncokazi said. "Its cheap labour and high productivity enables it to achieve almost unrivalled efficiency and undercut prices, because costs are kept to a minimum." Yath president Celina Zheng said the province offered substantial investment opportunities in agriculture.
Yath is an entity formed by Chinese businessmen to facilitate trade between Africa and China, and the company would open its doors for trade in March. Alfred Nzo development agency CEO Nandipa Bam said local farmers would benefit from the agreement. "We are looking at 500ha minimum and, since each farmer has about 10ha, about 50 farmers will benefit. "The project will bring job creation from primary production and spin-offs in packing, transportation and skills development.
ECDC development services executive manager Noludwe Ncokazi said Eastern Cape businesses could benefit from trade with China, if they capitalised on their competitive advantages to leverage opportunities the massive Chinese economy presented. "China is setting the pace for manufacturing of clothing and electronic goods," Ncokazi said. "Its cheap labour and high productivity enables it to achieve almost unrivalled efficiency and undercut prices, because costs are kept to a minimum." Yath president Celina Zheng said the province offered substantial investment opportunities in agriculture.
