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New KZN international ports to increase trade
Exports from the KwaZulu-Natal to the international community are set to increase with the new Dube Trade Port situated at the north of Durban and the new International Airport.
The Dube Trade Port is the biggest single government infrastructure investment in the province, involving an initial investment of R6.5 billion, and is on schedule to be ready in time for 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“The catalytic impact of this project will not be confined to the growth node in the costal area north of Durban, but will reverberate across the entire province and position KwaZulu-Natal as a destination of choice for domestic and international tourists,” the province's Premier, Sibusiso Ndebele announced.
Ndebele announced this during his keynote address at the International Investment Council which was held in the province over the weekend.
On completion the Dube Trade Port alone will contribute R12.4 billion to the economy and will create thousands of new jobs.
“By all accounts, these are signs that we are moving in the right direction. There is good reason to be hopeful,” Ndebele told the council.
According to statistics, the Durban Port is the busiest port city on the African continent and ideally located to access the international shipping routes between East and West.
The Port of Durban is an exciting hub of economic activity and the largest of South Africa's seven ports.
According to statistics, it handles in excess of 31.4 million tons of cargo a year, with a value in excess of R100 billion per annum - approximately 65% of the value of all cargo going through South African ports.
A report released by Quantec data, KwaZulu-Natal's top export destinations in 2005 were the United States, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany.
More than R3 billion has been set aside for investment in Durban Port's infrastructure since 2002 for various improvements which include the construction of cargo terminals, Ndebele said.
The second port - Richard's Bay which is also in the province is South Africa's premier bulk cargo handling port and is one of the fastest growing industrial areas in the province, the centre of operations for South Africa's aluminum industry.
Article published courtesy of BuaNews
