The Eastern Cape Oceans Economy Secretariat recently facilitated a two-day Strategic Planning and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop of the Buffalo City Maritime Cluster aimed at promoting collaborations and aligning public and private partnerships within the vibrant maritime sector.
The workshop served as an important platform to solidify the cluster’s next five-year vision of bringing maritime business closer to the people, empowering local communities with skills, and raising awareness of the myriad opportunities and programs the cluster aims to achieve through national and international collaborations.
A core focus of the Buffalo City Maritime Cluster is on education, maritime awareness, and skills alignment. The initiative aims to prepare school learners from intermediary phases, guiding them all the way to tertiary institutions. This comprehensive approach ensures that all coastal communities, particularly those traditionally underrepresented, are empowered to understand and maximise the opportunities within the maritime business. The cluster seeks to learn from the successes of other coastal cities globally that have effectively leveraged their maritime potential.
A key strategy emerging from the workshop was the development of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) within the maritime space. The cluster envisions a supportive ecosystem where established "big players” in the industry guide and mentor emerging businesses. This includes exploring their innovative ideas and, crucially, securing vital support from both government and the private sector. "Our aim within the cluster is to be a one-stop shop for maritime activity, industry collaboration, and opportunities for small to medium enterprises," explained Buffalo City Maritime Cluster Secretariat Ms. Thabisa Sigwela.
"Through this, we intend to unlock significant economic opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the GDP growth of the province and the broader region,” she said.
According to the Buffalo City Maritime Cluster Chief Operating Officer Mr. Andile Tom, the cluster is not operating in isolation, it actively collaborates with the Nelson Mandela Bay Maritime Cluster, eThekwini Maritime Cluster, and Richards Bay Maritime Cluster. "The overarching vision is to establish a nationwide maritime cluster alliance, with representation across all South African provinces. This collaborative network will ensure a consolidated and impactful approach to maritime development across the country,” he said.
The cluster acknowledges and aims to dispel misconceptions about the maritime business. "Our focus is on bringing maritime business closer to our people, as predominantly, people have had certain perceptions about the sector," Mr. Tom said addding, "it’s about education, maritime awareness, and preparing our youth for the opportunities that lie ahead.”
The cluster operates on a "quadruple helix" model, bringing together four critical pillars:
- Academia: To ensure a pipeline of relevant scarce skills and to promote research and innovation.
- Communities: To empower individuals with knowledge, skills, and access to opportunities.
- Government: To provide policy support, funding, and strategic alignment.
- Industry: To drive economic growth, create jobs, and provide mentorship.
With robust accountability and transparency processes, including a dedicated management team and a governing board, the cluster operates as a non-profit company. A key function is business-to-business matchmaking, connecting successful international maritime businesses with local enterprises poised for growth.
The Buffalo City Maritime Cluster is also strategically aligned with the government’s Operation Phakisa Oceans Economy initiative. The cluster possesses a clear understanding of its role in advancing the "blue economy” agenda, encompassing aspects like green financing, decarbonisation, and environmental friendliness – all intrinsically linked to the maritime sector.
"We seek to strengthen our relationship with Operation Phakisa as the secretariat, ensuring that all our anchor partners, including SAIMI and other industry players, provide essential support services and business development,” Mr. Tom emphasised. This collaboration aims to ensure that the correct skills are absorbed and effectively utilised by key parastatals like Transnet, thereby maximising job creation and competitive advantages.
Strengthening relationships with government departments, the National Treasury, and agencies such as the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council (ECSECC), along with local municipalities, was also paramount.
The goal is to consolidate funding efforts for self-sustainable pilot programs that yield tangible results in a limited timeframe. While numerous opportunities exist, Transnet is seen as a crucial partner in minimising bailouts by nurturing proper skills development and value-add in business and revenue enhancement operations. The Buffalo City Maritime Cluster is poised to be a transformative force, unlocking the vast potential of the maritime sector for the benefit of all in the Eastern Cape and beyond.
Watch highlights of the workshop here
View gallery of the workshop here
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