East London electronics company Vektronix has scooped a major contract with Samsung to assemble all their television sets for the South African market.

The contract – for an initial period of two years – will see Vektronix producing 70 000 television sets a year, creating employment for an additional 50 staff.

Vektronix Managing Director, Craig Tyzack says the deal could also hold positive spinoffs for other companies in the region that could supply packaging materials for the TV sets.

“We see this as a coup for ourselves and for the East London region,” Tyzack said. “We have also held talks with the Border-Kei Chamber of Business and the National Ports Authority to investigate the possibility of having our containers delivered through the port of East London.”

Vektronix was established two years ago after a management buy-out of Tellumat’s East London factory. The awarding of this exciting contract will further boost business confidence in the region, on top of a R9 million a year Vektronix deal to make solar-powered electricity meters for Rural Area Power Solutions, an initiative subsidised by the Department of Minerals and Energy to take electricity to inaccessible rural areas.

Samsung awarded the contract based on the quality of the production facility, commitment in focus and management infrastructure.

“This is a vote of confidence in East London and we will ensure that we deliver a world-class product to the market,” said Tyzack.