Western Cape Hosts One of Africa's Biggest Ports Conferences

Africa’s most influential conference on the expansion of the continent’s ports starts in the Western Cape on Monday 26 August 2013.

The Africa Ports Evolution will be held at the Cape Town Convention Centre until Wednesday, 28 August.

Alan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, is one of the keynote speakers at the forum’s opening night.

Minister Winde said the Western Cape Government was currently developing a proposal for the redesign for the Port of Cape Town precinct, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town and the national government.

The Western Cape was awaiting the designation of the Industrial Designation Zone (IDZ) in Saldanha Bay by the National Department of Trade and Industry, which is expected soon.

Minister Winde said the province would use the opportunities presented by these significant events to grow the regional economy and create employment for residents.

It is estimated that every stay of eight weeks by an oil rig being serviced at the Port of Cape Town creates 2 000 jobs for residents and contributes R200 million to the Western Cape’s economy.

“Ports can play a massive role in economic growth, in the Netherlands the Port of Rotterdam is the gateway to the rest of Europe. Through our ports, which major strategic assets, we can position the Western Cape as the entry and exit point for goods to the booming African continent. And we are edging closer to this goal as we get ready for the designation of the IDZ and the redesign of the Cape Town Port,” said Minister Winde.

The agenda for the Africa Ports Evolution includes discussing ways to reduce transit times for the export and import of goods to and from Africa. Delegates will focus on increased co-operation between Africa’s port cities to boost the continent’s international profile.