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The state-of-the-art deep water Port of Ngqura was opened by President Jacob Zuma, and Trade and Industry Minister, Malusi Gigaba, in March.

This marked a major milestone in the country’s infrastructure development efforts and commitment to regional economic development. The Port, a green felds project, has been in construction for the past 12 years.

Transnet has invested over R10 billion to develop the facility, which once complete, will boast a four-berth container terminal, a Lique feld Natural Gas (LNG) facility, as well as a bulk and break-bulk berth. Transnet earmarked Ngqura as a transhipment hub linking trade routes between the East and the West.

Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Cllr Zanoxolo Wayile, thanked the national leadership for the confdence it has shown in Nelson Mandela Bay.

“The time for short-term planning is over. The opening of this terminal indicates the future of the economy of the city. As a city, we need to play a critical role in the economy of the country and the continent,” said Mayor Wayile.

President Zuma said he was confdent that the opening of Port Ngqura would be followed by more announcements of investments that will create jobs and the transfer of skills.

“The Coega Industrial Development Zone must serve as a major facilitator of trade and investment in the Eastern Cape region,” said President Zuma.

SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES TO BOOST GROWTH

A new Bill gazetted in January aims at boosting job creation and industrialisation in South Africa’s outlying areas through the licens-ing of Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies, said special economic zones would expand on the work already done by the country’s Industrial Development Zones (IDZs) and attract more foreign investment.

In particular, SEZs would help stimulate industrialisation outside of the country’s main urban areas of Cape Town, Gauteng, Durban-Pietermaritzburg, East London and Port Elizabeth. Source: www.southafrica.info/business/economy/policies”