Dube TradePort was officially opened by South Africa’s President, Mr Jacob Zuma, during a recent high-level ceremony staged at two of the precinct’s development areas, Dube AgriZone and Dube City.
The 08 March 2012 event included the unveiling of a statue of the founding President of the ANC, Dr John Langalibalele Dube, after whom the development is named. Dube TradePort is home to the King Shaka International Airport, which was itself officially opened ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
President Zuma said many impressive projects had been significantly developed or completed during the past 22 months, including Dube Cargo Terminal, Dube TradeZone, Dube TradeHouse, Dube AgriZone, Dube City infrastructure and an IT and telecommunications platform,
Dube iConnect.
“These interventions demonstrate that Government wants to achieve, without delay, the broad and strategic objectives of the Dube TradePort project,” he said.
The Dube TradePort Corporation has been assigned the role of delivering “a unique airport city north of Durban.”
“In so doing, we will be able to boost economic development and job creation and take forward our campaign against poverty, unemployment and inequality. We cannot do this work alone, as Government. Working together with the private sector and the community, greater success is achievable,” President Zuma added.
He was confident that “good progress” could be made in this regard, indicating that Dube TradePort – set to be Southern Africa’s premier air logistics platform – was strategically located between the two largest seaports in the southern hemisphere, Durban and Richards Bay, and re-confirmed Government’s intention to provide for the improvement of the movement of goods and economic integration through a Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and industrial corridor.
President Zuma said: “This project is intended to connect the major economic centres in Gauteng and Durban/Pinetown, linking these centres with improved export capacity through our seaports and improved railway lines.” Dube TradePort formed an important part of this initiative.
“A logistics hub, such as Dube TradePort, is critical for growth, given the fact that we are located far from the main global market-places in America, Europe and the emerging markets in Asia. Efficient, low-cost and reliable transport and information hubs are critical for our economic prosperity,” he stressed.
Commenting on Dube AgriZone, President Zuma said he was impressed by the development. “The focus on agriculture and food security in this airport city is a very progressive step. The advantage of the AgriZone is the use of limited growing space for the production of high volumes of quality produce. As this project demonstrates, there is real scope for growth and finding new markets for produce, including exports.”
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, described the Dube TradePort precinct as “attractive to investment” and said proposals were being formulated for a dedicated light railway network to link Dube TradePort with the north coast and Durban’s central business district, a move which could further stimulate business growth and development in the area.
MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu, said of the launch of Dube TradePort: “This is the fulfilment of a dream and the opening of a new chapter in KwaZulu-Natal.” He indicated that the project had contributed towards transforming KwaZulu-Natal into becoming the gateway to Africa.
Given the National Government’s commitment to significant levels of investment in infrastructure, President Zuma described the official opening of Dube TradePort as “a celebration of success and progress”.