The Open Gate Pottery and Craft, a development project that has been established at Acornhoek in Mpumalanga, has a potential to grow with great economic impact in the province at large. Acornhoek is a Comprehensive Rural Development (CRDP) site and the business is gradually creating a vibrant community in this rural area, and is as such it is on track in terms of meeting the objectives of the CRDP.
The business has made great strides since being established in 2006. A cooperative Open Gate specialises in making side plates, mugs, cereal bowls and normal plates. It is now one of the development projects in Acornhoek which has created employment opportunities to people in the areas. Not only that the majority of its employees had received extensive training in the projects and as just the company has now competent staff who produce materials of high quality and with the potential of vast market they hope to serve the trained staff could come handy.
The project got R250 000 loan from Ceda and then approached the National Development Agency for extra funding. The funding was to help with product development. Soon Open Gate will be signing an agreement with a major company which has similar business venture. Open Gate will have a 33% stake in that company. As a strategic partner the company will bring the vital resources that are needed for a project like Open Gate which has great potential to grow; moreover the company will help in terms of marketing the products.
The project was launched on 17 October 2011 and there is more hope to grow the business.
In the meantime the cooperative has identified its own market. It counts hospitals as a major market for its products; hospitals could buy their crockery from the project. Mpumalanga has 30 hospitals and apparently one hospital creates about five jobs. This of course has created sustainability of the project. Moreover they pin their hopes on government offices and this could create another huge market for them.
Enquiries:
Eddie Mohoebi
Tel: 012 312 9648
Cell: 082 550 1445
Open Gate Pottery and Craft
