South Africa's Port Operations and general infrastructure are in for a revamp, speaking at the Wits Business School recently, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin discussed some of the problems faced in the past and ways in which government intend opening up new opportunities in the country's ports.
A number of changes which will be beneficial to the Eastern Cape region are already afoot. Erwin said that by redesigning South Africa's ports, the government would be redesigning its cities and opening up opportunities in tourism, property and light industry.
In this vein of offering opportunities to industry the Port of Port Elizabeth has again agreed to allow organisers Exhibitions for Africa to hold the Eastern Cape Industrial Technology Exhibition at the Fresh Produce Terminal in the Port Elizabeth Harbour. The show will take place from 15-17 February 2006. Exhibitors are already clamouring for space and Exhibition sales representative Loftie Eaton says: "The outside area is already looking good with Volvo Truck and Bus, Manito Forklifts, Versatile Container and 600 SA Crane division being some of the exhibitors already signed up." He adds "Things are on a roll and we have plenty of new entrants; obviously we are giving original exhibitors first option but things are hotting up to the extent where they will lose their spot if they do not hurry up."
The country's recent GDP statistics indicate growth above 4% and according to Port Elizabeth's Chamber of Commerce and Industry's newsletter, consumer confidence in the Eastern Cape recently yielded the highest reading since the second quarter of 2004. This is good news for the upcoming trade show where exhibitors have the opportunities to showcase their products and services to a market that is growing and consumers have the opportunity to see what new technology, products and services there are out there.
Going back to some of Erwin's comments with regards to the crucial area of containers, he said government would combine concession operations with state operations. A new, modern, dedicated, greenfields container terminal is being built in Durban. Government is also considering concessions and at Coega in the Eastern Cape, a container terminal is being built and government would be seeking partnerships with the major users.
Recent data supplied by the National Ports Authority shows that the country's five container ports of Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Richards Bay handled 2633 million containers in 2004, a 9% rise on 2003 and the slowest growth in the past three years after an increase of 13% in 2003 and 11,5% in 2002.
Infrastructure has become a major bottleneck for the South African economy, and government has committed in excess of R150 billion on infrastructure projects with increased spending on public assets through public-private partnerships.
So if your company is looking to expand or 'debottleneck' and is interested in the Eastern Cape as a region look no further than the Eastern Cape Industrial and Technology Exhibition. Visit www.ignitex.co.za for early registration, preferential rates for hotels and any extra information - to exhibit, call Loftie Eaton on 083 368 6081.
For more information contact Dev Naidoo, Exhibitions for Africa, 011 886 3734, devn@exhibitafrica.co.za
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