ECSECC was founded in July 1995 as an institutional mechanism to foster new relationships between the key stakeholders of the Eastern Cape Province.

ECSECC strives for a poverty free Eastern Cape where everyone benefits equitably from the economy and realise their human potential.

To facilitate effective and efficient administration and governance and to be a socio-economic knowledge hub for the Eastern Cape Province.

The Economic Governance programme consists of a team of agile individuals who are working in key areas designed to support economic growth and development in the province.

The programme focuses on support to the Office of the Premier, Provincial Government departments and Local Government in the field of development planning.

This is a stand-alone programme to respond to ECSECC's mandate to mobilise and coordinate stakeholders to drive a common provincial infrastructure agenda in the Eastern Cape.

The Human Resources Development Programme drives education and training initiatives that aim to build human capability for economic growth in the Eastern Cape.

Established in 2000, the Eastern Cape AIDS Council, (ECAC) operates independently of government.

The purpose of this programme is to make sure ECSECC remains the information hub of the province.

Source: IMF: World Economic Outlook (Database: October 2017) - ECSECC: March 2018 Emerging market and developing economies reached the highest level of 4.5% growth in 2017 from 3.1% in the previous year; and thereafter forecasted to rebound at 3.5% in 2018 and 3.2% in 2019-2022.

The Eastern Cape economy contracted by 0.2 of a percentage point to 0.6% year-on-year (y/y) in 2017, lower than 0.8% in the previous year. The decline in growth experienced by the Eastern Cape economy in 2017 was due to negative growth in the following sectors: trade sector (0.4% y/y), construction sector (0.3% y/y), and manufacturing sector (0.2% y/y). GDP Annual Growth Rate in the Eastern Cape averaged 2.4% y/y from 1996 until 2017, reaching an all-time high of 5.3% in 2007 and a record low of -1.0% in 2009.

Poverty is an important figure in measuring changes in socio-economic development. Poverty levels in the Eastern Cape are still high but the poverty levels have been declining from 68.6% in 2007 to 64.3% in 2016. However, after the recession period in 2008/2009, unemployment continued to increase to 29.4% between 2013-2014, declined slightly to 29.2% in 2015 and started increasing to 30% in 2016.

The Eastern Cape inflation rate for this month declined significantly by 0.9 of a percentage point to 4.9% y/y in June 2017, from 5.8% y/y in the previous month. The decline in inflation implies that more disposable income for consumers to spend. This was the lowest inflation rate since October 2015 (4.8%). Inflation rate in the province continues to remain within Reserve Bank’s target range.

In 2015, Finance (1.8% y/y), Construction (1.3% y/y) and Government (1.1% y/y) sectors experienced growth rate above 1%, whereas Transport, Community Services and Trade sectors experienced growth rate less than 1%. The sectors that experienced negative growth were Manufacturing (-0.2% y/y), Electricity (-1.1%), Mining (-4.6% y/y) and Agriculture (-6.3% y/y). In the 2015, the three largest contributing sectors in the Eastern Cape economy towards GDP were Government (22.8%), Finance (20.2%) and Trade (19.7%).

South Africa grew by 0.7% (QoQ) and the Eastern Cape by 1.5%. The Eastern Cape escaped the recession due to growth in Manufacturing, Trade and Finance sectors. In 3Q2015, five provinces were technically in recession: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Free State and North West. Well off provinces (GT – KZN – WC) escaped the recession. The Eastern Cape and the country as a whole also escaped the recession.

The labour market has not recovered from the 2008/2009 recession. Between 2003 and 2008, the official unemployment rate in the country and in the province came down but after the recession it continued to grow as the economy fails to create new jobs.

The labour market has not recovered from the 2008/2009 recession. Between 2003 and 2008, the official unemployment rate in the country and in the province came down but after the recession it continued to grow as the economy fails to create new jobs.