Welcome to our inaugural issue of Dube Times. This is the first edition in a series of quarterly newsletters to keep tenants, investors, developers and other interested stakeholders informed about developments, activities and events here.
The year in review: The past year proved a momentous period in Dube TradePort Corporation’s history. Much has been achieved since the May 2010 opening of King Shaka International Airport and Dube
Cargo Terminal.
Dube iConnect brought on-stream a disaster recovery solution for tenant companies, developed a fibre network across the precinct, using advanced communication and computing platforms, established voice and broadband solutions and developed a virtual platform through which to offer new IT services, such as small business packages. In addition, the overhead conveyor system linking Dube TradeHouse and Dube Cargo Terminal became operational, while in Dube AgriZone Greenhouses A and C became operational and our rainwater harvesting system was completed. We rehabilitated 198 ha of land across the precinct, including alien clearing. Our new headquarters, 29° South, was completed and we hosted the inaugural and highly successful Air Cargo Summit Africa 2011.
New Board of Directors: I am pleased to welcome our new Dube TradePort Corporation Board. Welcome to Bridgette Gasa (Chairperson), Carol Silindile Sibiya (Deputy Chairperson), Velenkosini Lindokuhle Mtshali, Graham Muller and Mewa Ramgobin. We are confident that the individual skills and collective experience they offer will provide the impetus and strategic direction necessary to take Dube TradePort Corporation to a new business level. We look forward to continuing our journey with them.
Events: President Jacob Zuma recently officially opened Dube TradePort, a landmark event which was combined with his unveiling of a statue of John Dube, after whom the development is named. John Dube is a greatly revered figure in South Africa’s history. He was a renaissance man whose roots lie in the region around what is now Dube TradePort. His statue stands in pride of place in Dube Square and will become a focal point in this emerging urban precinct and meeting place for business people, traders and travellers.
The way forward: The currency crisis in Europe, the slow-down of the world economy and rising fuel costs are making it difficult to achieve significant economic growth, increased investment and greater levels
of employment.
Dube TradePort Corporation, like other South African enterprises, is not immune to the implications this may have on overall growth prospects. However, we remain upbeat about our investment and development projections, given the competitive advantages we offer tenants and investors. We are committed to creating and maintaining an enabling environment for the development of a sustainable aerotropolis by accelerating efforts to introduce new international and regional air services, facilitating air cargo and passenger growth; promoting private sector investment in Dube TradePort and producing sustainable volumes of perishables in support of the integrated air logistics platform. We will also look to endeavouring to lower logistic costs to promote competitiveness. In addition, we continue rolling-out our sophisticated IT platform, a significant value added service to tenants, users and clients.
Conclusion: We look forward to regularly sharing information with you regarding the development of Dube TradePort, KwaZulu-Natal’s single biggest infrastructural investment project ever.