THE Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) hosted port clients and representatives of government, business and industry recently at the Port of Ngqura. The meeting of the Nelson Mandela Bay ports’ Customer Forum was aimed at aligning the TNPA’s plans to meet the business requirements of those using the region’s two ports.
The authority’s Chief Operating Officer Nozipho Mdawe outlined various developments lined up for the ports. “We gained valuable feedback on industry’s plans and expectations of us as a crucial partner to their business,” she said.
“TNPA is looking to meet gaps in the market, by providing facilities that will attract business to the Eastern Cape and create opportunities for those who were previously excluded from the port system.”
Mdawe added that the Eastern Cape – as the fourth biggest provincial economy – after Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal – offers tremendous untapped potential for greater participation in the global economy.
“As Transnet, we have programmes in place to support this. The Ports of PE and Ngqura recently hosted a number of trade delegations, exploring business opportunities in South Africa.”
Speaking from a TNPA customer perspective, Steve Kapp (MD, Swartkops Terminal), shared the success story of the terminal established in 2009, offering a logistics solution to the increasing demand for manganese ore exports.
Jane Stevenson (Vice-President, Exporters Club) inspired the audience to be ambassadors for the Eastern Cape economy.
A panel discussion, represented by various Transnet division- and business representatives, discussed challenges and questions from the floor.