Excecuted by Royal HaskoningDHV, Enhancing Society Together
This specific report deals with the KwaZulu-Natal region in South Africa. It investigates the Port and Corridor Development in KwaZulu-Natal with the ultimate goal to identify and/or open markets for the 2g@there cluster members and beyond. The report is a compilation of various investment and trade related information on KwaZulu-Natal providing a fair overview of KwaZulu-Natal and its opportunities for Dutch companies.
There are plenty of reasons to do business in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The province is a prosperous and vibrant region having an advantageous location, abundant resources, effective infrastructure, stable governance, a thriving economy and an excellent lifestyle. Of major significance to the success of the region is KZN’s position on the eastern coast of South Africa.
Durban & Richards Bay
The two ports of Durban and Richards Bay, positioned on the Indian Ocean seaboard around which KZN is established, are both gateways to the sea lanes of the world. Durban and Richards Bay ports are southern Africa’s busiest in terms of handling cargo by value and bulk respectively. The ports provide a competitive advantage and effectively position the region to increase its share of the global market.
The province is committed to providing stability, effective governance as well as service delivery and the government of KZN recognizes that investment is critical to the growth of the provincial economy and aims to ensure that an environment conducive for investment to thrive is created. There is commitment to grow the economy in policy and in government budgets and both national and provincial government have endorsed some major infrastructure plans.
These plans include:
- Improving the Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and transport corridor
- expansion of the ports as well as lowering port tariffs.
- The plans for a huge dug-out port on the site of the old international airport, to expand the city port capacity, will become a major boost to investment in the province.
- An inland dry port at Cato Ridge is also proposed, which will be an asset to the Durban-Gauteng transport corridor
- The government of KZN budget plans include various projects for much needed public infrastructure delivery including housing, schools and health facilities. These programmes not only improve services but will benefit local suppliers and boost the construction sector enormously.
The administrative and regulatory context can be burdensome to foreign investment, but there are agencies in place to assist with facilitating investing and assisting with sourcing funding partners. More information to be found in the KwaZulu-Natal factfinding, which can be provided by SANEC.
