It is well documented that the Coega River area was settled by local communities as far back as 1200 ad. In fact the area represents the most southerly and westerly expansion of black farming communities (Nguni*) prior to the colonial contact period. An upside of contact between those hunter gathers, farming communities and European settlers, was that this frontier became a focal point of trade and development.

It could be argued that ‘knowledge’ of trade has always been integral to the mindset and communities in this area.

*Nguni – a language group to which the Xhosa belong.

The bigger idea of trade – the Coega Industrial Development Zone – began somewhat latter, with a private sector initiative producing an initial pre-investment appraisal in 1996.

1997 –  A feasibility study established that the Coega Project was viable and well-suited to the establishment of a deepwater port.

2001 March – Coega IDZ announces that the infrastructure design has been completed.

2001 December – Coega becomes the first declared South African IDZ.

2002 July – IDZ construction process starts.

2002 September – Port tender awarded (US $250 million) and construction starts.

2002 November – 15 construction sites operational.

2003 May – Construction village business centre completed.

2007 January – The CDC signs Eastern Cape Biomass Fuels Pellets (Pty) Ltd as another investor in the Coega IDZ.

2007 March – Dynamic Commodities becomes the first investor to operate in the Coega IDZ.

2008 March – The CDC signs a long-term lease agreement with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) to take over the management of the Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park (NMBLP).

2008 September – The first utility vessel carrying port equipment and equipment for electricity supply infrastructure docks at the Port of Ngqura.

2009 1st quarter – Trial operations at the Port of Ngqura confirm readiness of operations.

2009 – CDC portfolio of projects increases to R40 billion within four years of intensive marketing drive. The number of operating tenants at both the Coega IDZ and the Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park also increase. 

2009 3rd quarter – Announcement: PertoSA to establish R76 Billion oil refinery.

2009 3rd quarter – Benteler automotive announces expansion in NMBLP.

2009 3rd quarter – Construction of Benteler factory commences marking 100% occupancy of 1st phase of NMBLP and spills over into second phase in a record 18 months since Coega IDZ took over the operation and management of the park.

2009 4th quarter – MSC Catalina calls at Ngqura to mark the commencement of commercial operations