As a proudly South African organisation, Absa is pleased with its involvement with the Design Indaba in its mandate to showcase South Africa's premier local design. Absa is pleased to be a supporter of one of the southern hemisphere's most significant creative events where some of the world's most pioneering minds gather. Being involved with Design Indaba is more than just a sponsorship offering for Absa but a contribution to the development of South Africa's talent in the creative industry thus contributing to the country's economy. Absa strives to continue to support and nurture talent in the arts industry and Design Indaba is an extension to some of Absa's arts and culture portfolio, also including the Absa KKNK, Aardklop festival and Absa L'Atelier competition.

The SABC is South Africa's national public broadcaster. Almost 24,4 million adults tune in to the SABC's network of 18 Radio Stations everyday and 19,1 million adults watch the three free—to—air television channels. SABC is shifting from an inward—orientated self—assessing stance to broadcasting for Total Citizen Empowerment.

The SABC is at the heart of building and inspiring all South Africans; promoting democracy, non-racism and nation building through informative, entertaining and educative programming in all official languages. The SABC is proud to renew its commitment to Design Indaba as a main sponsor.

For The Times, South Africa's first truly interactive newspaper, the fit with Design Indaba, with its emphasis on innovation, is an obvious one. The Times is the newest offering from Avusa Media Ltd, publishers of the Sunday Times, which has long been a committed supporter of projects that promote new business and entrepreneurial opportunities for South Africans. The Design Indaba is both a unique platform for the South African design industry as well as a valuable incubator for great ideas offering real entrepreneurial opportunities.

As South Africa's leading cellular network, providing a world class GSM service to millions of customers, Vodacom strives to be one of Africa's most admired companies. The pride of Africa. Our passion will ensure that we remain the most competent and innovative of all in mobile technology and, on a day-to-day basis, make an even bigger impact on the lives of ordinary South Africans. Through sponsoring the Design Indaba, Vodacom encourages the development of creative industries and thus contributing to the economic growth of our country. With our creativity, let us all seek to do the impossible and capture the spirit of Africa.

Coca—Cola South Africa (CCSA) is a business unit within the Africa Group of the Coca—Cola Company. Representing the Coca—Cola Company in the borders in South Africa, Coca—Cola South Africa is honoured and proud to be associated with Design Indaba. It is this association that enables Coca—Cola South Africa to contribute meaningfully in the nurturing of young and existing creative talent within South Africa. An informal retail sector survey, commissioned as part of the economic impact study, found that Coca—Cola products play an important role in sustaining the livelihoods of South Africa's emerging entrepreneurs. It is with this finding in mind that the Coca—Cola South Africa company aims to play a significant role in participating in the platform through which young and existing designers can showcase their talents to a world audience.

Developmental partners

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Interactive Africa is an unconventional business born to the new South Africa — it views itself differently, and acts differently. Easy monikers, as is the norm in marketing services industry, like publishing house, events business, PR business or ad agency would just not suit. It's perhaps best typified in their own short, pithy description of their business: Interactive Africa —commercial activists. We prefer to call them rainmakers.

What's abundantly clear is that they largely use their eclectic skills base to advance the case of a resurgent South Africa, exemplified in the marketing and project management of some of the country's banner events of the last decade, like the First African in Space mission, the African Connection Rally (across Africa in April 1999), the FIFA Soccer World Cup Bids, the Cape Town Olympic Bid, as well as leveraging South Africa's presence at events such as the Atlanta Olympic Games and The Commonwealth Games.

They have used their unique amalgam of marketing and commercial savvy, project management/logistics prowess and creative/production services to promote South Africa, as they are mindful of the fact that after the miracle of 1994, SA needs an economic renewal to sustain the hard-fought political gains. Looking at their book on their first 7 years of existence called Work in Progress, it exudes an energy and passion for South Africa. It’s simply the reason why they have conceptualized and founded platforms like the International Design Indaba, now one of the leading design events in the world, the Cape IT Initiative (CITI), a unique development to promote the IT cluster in the Western
Cape or HIP2B2, a national initiative to promote mathematics and science amongst school learners.

The business has also an impressive list of corporate clients for whom they have performed strategic, creative, custom publishing and production services, notable amongst them being South Africa's leading cellular network, Vodacom, as well the leading retailer, Woolworths. They wrote the country's White Paper for Sport & Recreation for the National Ministry of Sport, and have recently added FIFA and the South African Local Organizing Committee for the 2010 Football World Cup, to their client list.