From the Chief ExecutiveWe are already halfway through a very busy 2013 and in those first six months have made great strides, ensuring that we remain well on-track with regard to meeting our pre-planned objectives. I am especially pleased that since the distribution of our last Dube Times newsletter in March this year - my first as Chief Executive Officer - I have been able to invest much time and energy in successfully engaging with a range of stakeholders, creating an awareness of our role and our accomplishments, whilst simultaneously nurturing vital business relationships with both existing and new partners. Reviewing the past four months, since our last newsletter, business life at Dube TradePort has been intense. We recently celebrated the commencement of construction of the multi-million Rand Shree Property Holdings' warehousing project in Dube TradeZone, an event attended by the MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu, who indicated that to date we have attracted no less than R560 million in private sector investment and that such has been business interest in locating in Dube TradeZone, that of the 47 sites we had to offer in the first phase of the development, just two don't yet have an agreement in place. This is a phenomenal achievement and is thanks to the fact that KwaZulu-Natal's business community is embracing Dube TradePort for what it is destined to become... a highly competitive business operating environment which provides for the speed, agility and connectivity necessary for business in today's frenetically-paced world. We are now working feverishly to bring on-stream the TradeZone's second phase, scheduled for development in 2015. Critically and in terms of our efforts to enhance regional and international air connectivity, we were pleased to witness in June this year the official launch of the second SA Express direct air route into Southern Africa. Just last year, our organisation signed an agreement with SA Express, resulting in this airline adopting King Shaka International Airport as its base for direct flights into a range of Southern African Development, or SADC, countries. The objective is to provide direct business and leisure travel access between Durban and a number of our Southern African neighbours. The first route, between Durban and Lusaka, Zambia, came into effect in July last year and was followed in November with the Durban to Harare, Zimbabwe, link. In an all-new initiative, we are currently looking to introduce three freighter aircraft during the 2013/14 financial year in a further effort to grow Durban's direct air connectivity with Africa and the world. Our goal is to employ two freighters to fly into Southern African regions and one to service Europe in order to benefit, especially, KwaZulu-Natal's business community, creating for companies the opportunity to access global supply chains and international markets. I will keep you informed of developments as this initiative is rolled-out. Given our standing as an environmentally responsible corporate citizen and an organisation which has already introduced a host of programmes aimed at minimising environmental degradation at Dube TradePort, we recently further increased our commitment to the environment with the signing of a Letter of Intent with The Waste Transformers BV, of Haarlem in the Netherlands. The purpose behind such a move is to enable us to fully investigate the feasibility of introducing a waste-to-energy installation within the precinct. The beauty of such a plant is that we could convert Dube TradePort waste into clean energy which might then be used within the precinct, cutting waste management and energy purchase costs, while assisting in our efforts to reduce Dube TradePort's CO² footprint. Finally, we have spent the past several months actively growing awareness of Dube TradePort and its many attributes by participating in such high-profile events as the annual SAPOA International Convention and Property Exhibition at Sun City, the Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition and the Royal Agricultural Show, to name but a few. Looking ahead, I am pleased to use this communications platform to announce a new development for Dube City. The 29° South complex, located just three minutes from King Shaka International Airport's passenger terminal, is soon to boast a new Conference Centre, which will be ideally suited to dynamic business professionals for whom time is a critical factor. This all-new addition to the region's conferencing environment will include a 200-seat conference centre, a 109-seat general functions venue, a 20-seat VIP Boardroom and a 150-seat restaurant, complemented by a Coffee and Snack Bar. A Travel Centre is also to be developed within the building, a part of which we already utilise as our own head office. These new editions to Dube City will commence business in September this year, growing Dube City’s envisaged positioning as a work, play and stay location. Given the ever-growing business interest in Dube TradePort , we believe we have positioned ourselves to make further inroads on the investment front. We will, accordingly, vigorously promote further investment in, especially, Dube TradeZone and Dube City in the months ahead. I also look forward to continuing to increase interaction between Dube TradePort Corporation and this country's business community's key stakeholders and decision-makers. In closing, let me assure you that we, of Dube TradePort Corporation, have one goal... to move your business forward. Ms Saxen van Coller
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