The virus is subsiding as evidenced by less infections, less deaths and less active cases, now it is time to focus on the reconstruction and recovery of our economy, This is against the backdrop of low economic growth, rising unemployment, ongoing budget cuts, and increasing demands for services, business activity was negatively affected by the pandemic, with many businesses having to slow down or shut down their operations.

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government have responded to COVID 19 pandemic with a range of short-term business relief packages. This included amending the Jobs Stimulus Fund to allow for additional support to businesses in distress. An amount of R75 million was approved to augment the budget for this fund. Currently 38 businesses have benefited to the value of R26. 6 million, thus ensuring the retention of 1 538 jobs in the province.

As at 05 February 2021, the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme benefitted 76 692 employers and 763 470 employees at a value of R3.164 Billion. Through the Covid-19 Agriculture Support Disaster Fund, R80.4 million was also disbursed to support 1 915 smallholder and communal farmers. The job stimulus fund will remain one of the key instruments for support to distressed businesses in the new financial year.

We recognize that short term interventions are not enough to meet the challenges of growing our economy such that it accommodates all the needs of the people. We therefore need sustainable interventions that will enable us to reconstruct and recover the economy. Accordingly, a number of strategic infrastructure programmes, aimed at connecting, networking and rende ring our Province as one big construction site,are being rolled out.