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KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE ON THE SOUTH COAST #UnlimitedOpportunities TO INVEST |
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Phelisa Mangcu |
CEO of South Coast
Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) |
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With the investment portfolio growing on the KZN South Coast, we are excited to launch our first, dedicated investment newsletter, to outline the achievements in this sector. |
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Our team has been working with our dynamic public and private partners to identify investment potential and develop opportunities within the region. We have identified our key growth sectors and are researching the best ways to provide the necessary support that will see these areas flourish. |
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One thing that is evident, is the need for a self-sustaining and resilient economy that can withstand any future turbulence, much of which has been witnessed over the past few years. To achieve this, we have to support local, a concept that has spurred our #buylocal campaign, as outlined below. |
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As President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the opening of the Proudly SA Buy Local Summit and Expo, “By buying local we are supporting livelihoods, small business development and job creation. We are supporting investment and research in new technology and innovation. As long as we are producing quality, locally made goods, we should also be buying them”. |
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We are an area of profound potential, with a skilled workforce producing quality-made goods. Our subtropical climate and natural beauty are unique. There is so much opportunity on the KZN South Coast, and we are looking forward to unlocking this with your support! |
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MARKETING UPDATE |
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Marketing Campaign |
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Marketing Collateral |
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This quarter, we attracted investor attention through our Unlimited Opportunities marketing campaign, using the hashtags #unlimitedopportunities #investkznsouthcoast #investment #kznsouthcoast. We used this campaign to really highlight the many investment opportunities found from the coast to the hinterland, across a number of key sectors which are outlined below. |
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We have been working tirelessly to build up an image bank that accurately promotes the destination’s key investment sectors. Further photoshoots are planned to ensure we have updated imagery of the latest offerings. Our existing SCTIE-branded USBs will be shared with potential investors at activations at relevant events. These include the A5 digital investment brochure and other relevant marketing collateral which are available online. |
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EXHIBITIONS AND ENGAGEMENTS |
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We relish the opportunity to partake in exhibitions and trade shows that allow us to identify investment opportunities and trends, while networking with potential investors, operators, and stakeholders interested in the South African market. |
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Africa Energy Indaba |
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SCTIE Strategy Planning Review 2023/2024 |
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From 7 to 9 March, SCTIE’s investment team attended the 15th Africa Energy Indaba hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The indaba, which is one of the continent’s longest-standing premier energy events, is an important opportunity to engage with African energy ministers and potential investors in the renewable energy sector. |
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On 9 February, we hosted an internal Strategy Planning Review at St Michael’s Hotel. SCTIE staff, board members, and representatives from district and local municipalities engaged collectively, to plan a way forward regarding marketing, investment, new resources for SMEs and other imperative objectives to enhance and position the KZN South Coast event more favourably. |
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PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE |
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We have shared these #unlimitedopportunities, as well as the #buylocal campaign, with the public through dedicated media releases. With the investment portfolio still being developed, we are focusing on specific growth sectors for each quarter while targeting specialised media outlets. Through our efforts, we received free exposure in several publications, including South Africa Today, My Durban, Marketing Spread, Rising Sun (Chatsworth), My Pressportal, the South Coast Weekly Gazette, and South Coast Herald, among others. We also shared the #buylocal messaging with an interview on Radio Sunny South. |
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There was a total of 90 coverage clippings with an advertising value equivalent (AVE) figure of R2 488 436 measured by media monitoring agency Newsclip. This includes: |
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Print coverage valued at R899 450 |
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Online media coverage valued at R1 588 986 |
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ADVERTISING UPDATE |
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We are taking the time to build up our investment-focused content and marketing collateral while focusing on advertising in niche markets. This quarter, the advertising material included: |
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Buy Local A5 Flyer |
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South Coast Herald Buy Local Advert and Editorial |
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Investment Adverts in South Coast Herald and Kokstad Advertiser |
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Property Developments showcased in the Inflight and Premier magazines |
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About Us Brochure |
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#UnlimitedOpportunities Advertising InFlight and Premier magazines |
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WEBSITE AND DIGITAL UPDATE |
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Social Media |
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Website |
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Our social media platforms are currently shared between tourism and investment with a current focus on driving investment engagement content. We are achieving this through continuous updates on investment, specifically around ‘Buy-Local’, ‘Port Shepstone Techno Hub’, ‘Unlimited Opportunities to Invest’ and ‘Play here, Stay here’ coverage. |
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The signing of our MOU with MasterCard has allowed us to explore e-commerce and other digital opportunities for the SCTIE websites, encouraging further investment opportunities with our digital resources. Our local businesses will enjoy digitisation that keeps operating costs down while attracting new investment. |
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Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) |
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We continue to prioritise SEO on our website to drive audiences to our online offerings. This strategy is showing results, as both the investment and SCTIE website’s engagement have more than doubled since its inception from September 2022 to February 2023. The keyword ‘KZN South Coast’ has organically reached Page One Ranking. We believe the introduction of additional SEO articles through analytical recommendations, considering competitor ranking and keywords has contributed to this upward trend. |
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Explore the KZN South Coast app |
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Database |
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We have connected the app with the destination website, so that it functions using one Content Management System (CMS), which allows us to cost-effectively update information across the app, as it is done on the website, daily. |
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We have restructured and updated our internal, POPI Act-compliant database, adding new categories, to diversify our communication efforts through SMS, newsletters, and other push notifications. |
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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT |
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We recently started Investment Prospectus research, a project that will span three months, collecting data from various strategic economic drivers within the KZN South Coast. The main objectives of this sub-district level investment research will focus on ‘Investment Promotion’, ‘Business Retention/ Expansion’ and ‘Export opportunities’. A full copy of the research findings will be available on our website, once completed. |
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INVESTMENT FACILITATION |
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One Stop Shop |
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Umzumbe River Trail |
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Our partnership with Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) saw the establishment of a One Stop Shop (OSS) in the KZN South Coast last quarter, and favourable feedback has been received from the demand assessment performed. |
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Our successful launch of the Umzumbe River Trail rural tourism project has provided significant investor opportunities. This quarter, we focused on identifying a site for the establishment of a lodge along the trail. |
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GROWTH SECTORS |
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Property |
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As a prime coastal destination and considering the massive demand for coastal properties in the domestic and international markets, property is a significant growth sector on the KZN South Coast. |
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Available Land for Investment |
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Manufacturing |
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On 6 February, the team visited 12.4 hectares of prime land in Shelly Beach, ideally suited to developing an upmarket, lifestyle village which is so in demand along the KZN coastline. The site is zoned special residential 3, permitting 21 to 40 dwellings per hectare – 330 units in total. |
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The well-established agricultural sector and logistical advantages on the KZN South Coast are beneficial for our manufacturing sector. We have identified two areas that pose significant investment potential and will continue to develop these and more. |
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BUY LOCAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCH |
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We were excited to launch our #buylocal campaign, which celebrates and supports the entrepreneurial spirit of the KZN South Coast. While we are known for our Blue Flag Beaches, dive sites, nature reserves, and great outdoor offerings, the KZN South Coast has so much more to offer! Our fertile land means farm-to-fork organic food supplies, from fruits and vegetables to coffee beans, while our local craftsmen and manufacturers are producing world-class goods right on our doorstep. |
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If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free ‘Explore KZN South Coast’ app from Google Play and Apple app stores. We urge you to encourage visitors to also download the app for regular updates on our tourism offerings. Information can also be found by visiting South Coast Tourism on Facebook; South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise on YouTube; @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram; Info Ugu South Coast Tourism on LinkedIn; and www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za to check out the Events Calendar, the KZN South Coast Meeting Planner Guide and more! And click here to check our previous SCTIE newsletters. |
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To find out more about the KZN South Coast’s investment
opportunities, contact 039 682 7944, email info@sctie.co.za or visit www.investkznsouthcoast.co.za. |
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