Perhaps the best answer to this question is that it is too strategic to ignore. As the regional service hub for south-eastern Mpumalanga, Swaziland and southern Mozambique, Mbombela offers support, business, educational and financial services. Mbombela forms part of Mpumalanga (meaning "The Place where the Sun rises"), which accounts for 6,5% Of South Africa's land mass and 8,4% of its Gross Geographic Product.

Only three hours drive from Johannesburg and two hours from Maputo in Mozambique, it is well placed for exposure to the markets of Gauteng, the rest of Mpumalanga and neighbouring countries. Mbombela is also politically stable and offers clear and consistent economic policies, which are complimented with an investor friendly climate. The excellent infrastructure includes an international airport, extensive railway links to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and the rest of South Africa. The Maputo Corridor, a first world transport axis between Gauteng and the deep sea port of Maputo in Mozambique is a major transport route that runs through Mbombela.

The region is also favoured by industries, such as furniture makers, manganese processors, growers or tropical and subtropical crops, paper and pulp manufacturers as well as service providers in the secondary and tertiary sector. Internationally renowned names such as Virgin Active and representatives of European manufacturers have poured money into Mbombela.

One of the largest banana farming and export areas in South Africa is found in the northern parts of the area. Other crops include tobacco, avocado pears, sugar cane, oranges, lemons, tangerines and macadamia nuts.

Nelspruit's thriving commercial center offers many shopping centers and retail opportunities ombined with sophisticated infrastructure and a well established banking sector. Higher education institutes include satellite offices of the major universities in South Africa, a technikon campus, colleges, business and computer schools as well as an agricultural college.

Tourism is widely reckoned to be one of the growth industries of the future, More than 17% of foreign tourists who enter the country visits the Kruger National Park and other private game reserves and lodges in Mbombela.

The sophistication of Mbombela's first world medical facilities, private and public schools, modern living amenities and moderate climate contributes to having the best of both worlds with Big Five (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo) game reserves and some of the most beautiful scenery in South Africa just an hour away.

Key sectors

The real Gross Geographic Product (GGP) of Mbombela has increased in its contribution to the Mpumalanga economy. In 1996 the GGP contributed 11,26% to the Mpumalanga economy and increaed to 12,03% in 2000.

The real GGP growth is 2,93% and the following table indicates Mbombela's GGP contribution per sector per area.