His Excellency, the South African Commissioner to Zambia, d_Piet Mathebe
The Honourable Provincial Minister of Lusaka, Obvious Mwalitela
The Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry, Richwell Siamunene
Members of the Zambian Business Delegation
Members of the South African Business Delegation
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
All protocol observed.
It is our singular honour as the government of South Africa to have been afforded the opportunity of meeting with our Zambian counterparts with the express aim of discuss matters of mutual interest. Indeed, when we visited Zambia last year, we broke new ground by declaring our intentions of launching a direct air-route between KwaZulu-Natal and Lusaka.
Programme Director, it is well established that the Zambian people and the people of South Africa share a history spanning decades. It was at this very town of Lusaka that the leadership of the African National Congress was offered political sanctuary when circumstances back home dictated that we seek exile in neighbouring African States.
Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, in rekindling this spirit of camaraderie, it is apt that we continue to forge symbiotic relationships between these two allies.It is neither an accident nor an error of judgement that we elected to bring along some of the crème de la crème of KwaZulu-Natal’s business community for the purposes of this trip.
Rather, when we took this decision, we were fully cognisant of the immense economic benefits that the launch of the Durban-Lusaka route represents. In this regard, we thought it prudent to dialogue with business sector players from both countries to see what opportunities lay ahead.
Programme Director, with the eyes of the world firmly focused on the African continent as the next growth frontier, we need to ensure that we up the ante by ensuring that we are adequately capacitated to lure potential investors to our continent.
A good start would be by ensuring that our air travel meets the demands of the discerning investor.Therefore, the introduction of direct air links between Lusaka, here in Zambia, and the port city of Durban on the east coast of South Africa is a significant step in this direction a move that will foster even closer relationships between both Zambia and KwaZulu-Natal's business and tourism communities.
The ease of access that such direct air links between our respective regions provides will better enable the citizens of both Zambia and KwaZulu-Natal to derive the clear and present benefits and, especially, the economies of scale associated with being able to trade, conduct business, promote leisure activities and activate tourism development opportunities.
Programme Director, perhaps not surprisingly, and given our close proximity and also historical ties, Zambia counts among the major countries that are trade partners to South Africa. In the last year alone, the two countries recorded an estimated bilateral trade value of about 25 billion rands.
Accordingly, the Zambian Central Statistical Office records that Zambia’s major imports for January 2013 was South Africa , accounting for 26.1 per cent of the major import products such as structures and parts of structures, steel, and iron. Along with Asia, which claims the lion’s share of Zambia’s total exports, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region accounted for 19.4 per cent of all imports in January, 2013.
Programme Director; these trade statistics clearly spell out the need to continually bolster our business partnerships. Therefore, and in keeping with the dictates of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), we have to nurture intra-continental partnerships such that we take forward our shared ideals of economic development.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to now give you a cursory overview of what business growth opportunities lie within the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Our strategic geographic location on Africa's east coast means that we offer a plethora of opportunities.
With both the continent's busiest seaport of Durban, and the country's biggest harbour in Richards Bay, and now with the advent of direct air connectivity, coupled with its wonderful year-round weather, KwaZulu-Natal has emerged as a key business, tourism and investment destination. KwaZulu-Natal provides for South Africa's second biggest Provincial economy, has an exceptional tourism record as the country's leading domestic tourism destination, enjoys a burgeoning manufacturing sector, has extensive farmland and is widely regarded as having world-class sporting and conferencing facilities.
Equally, the opportunities for business here in Zambia, together with the superb tourist delights this country has to offer makes for a perfect fit and I am quite sure that we will see growing business and tourist ties developing into the future. A business entity of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, Dube Trade Port Corporation, is charged with the responsibility for facilitating the introduction of new regional and international air services at our Province's recently opened ultra-modern King Shaka International Airport.
This organisation has entered into a critically important agreement with leading airline, SA Express, with a view to introducing direct flights between Durban and a number of our country's Southern African neighbours. As we have already alluded, the first of these routes to be introduced commercially was the Durban-Lusaka link, which became operational in July last year - a truly historic breakthrough for KwaZulu-Natal.
This route was followed in November last year with another to Harare and I am pleased to inform you that Dube Trade Port Corporation and SA Express are at an advanced stage of planning for the introduction of similar routes between Durban and other SADC territories. Such close co-operation between these two organisations and their common aspiration to expand and improve Durban's air connectivity means that together they have opened the door of opportunity for the benefit of both Zambia and KwaZulu-Natal.
Their efforts have created a conduit for trade and travel.Now, we would invite the private sectors of both Zambia and KwaZulu-Natal to exploit that conduit, crossing the threshold to develop new and expand existing business and leisure opportunities.
Ladies and gentlemen, the world of business, inclusive of the tourism industry, is becoming increasingly competitive as the so-called 'global village' shrinks. The difference between growth and success and stagnation and failure is having a competitive edge. That edge is to be found in creating an enabling environment; an environment which delivers for the business community the components necessary to be successful... speed, agility and connectivity.
We, of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, have recognised this and are intent on developing Africa's first purpose-planned airport city, Dube TradePort, at whose core is located King Shaka International Airport. We are, thus, developing the very infrastructure which the business community may use, locating close to the airport and taking advantage of the first two components I mentioned: speed and agility.
A key objective for Dube Trade Port Corporation is that of facilitating the introduction of new regional and international air services at King Shaka International Airport. This objective is receiving the organisation's close attention. We are pursuing opportunities most vigorously in order to steadily grow Durban's direct connectivity with a range of SADC countries and long-haul destinations beyond.
Achievements thus far include the decision by SA Express to use King Shaka International Airport as its Southern African route-base, a move which will have farreaching effects in terms of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal's ability to improve two-way business and tourism linkages with Southern African countries to the north, inclusive of, especially, Zambia.
The ease of direct flights between our coastal paradise, with its beautiful 'year-round summer weather' and exceptional beach experiences, together with the business and tourism opportunities of Zambia have the potential to substantially boost meaningful interaction between our two countries, leading to economic growth and with it, the opportunity to boost sustainable employment of further benefit to those of you from Zambia is the fact that our direct air link to this country will also be of advantage to other South African coastal cities, with the likely attraction of both leisure and business travellers to your country from East London, Port Elizabeth and even Cape Town via Durban.
There is also a strong probability that Durban's growing number of direct links to SADC countries will prove to be of interest to international airlines, who may be considering ways and means of improving connectivity beyond Durban into Southern Africa.
When all is said and done, it is clear that we are effectively addressing that last and, oh so important, component for business success... connectivity! In addition, we have in place in KwaZulu-Natal several Provincial Public Entities geared to facilitate business development and promote foreign direct investment, and to foster tourism potential.
Collectively, such public entities are mandated to grow the regional economy in their respective fields and to present a highly professional business- and tourist-friendly environment to prospective traders, developers and investors from outside our boundaries.
Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal is resourced to generate foreign direct investment into our Province, to actively promote trade and to assist companies to export their products to African and international markets.
In its turn, our provincial tourism authority, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal recognises that Zambians - coming from a land-locked country - now have at their disposal an easily and quickly reached coastal destination for the ultimate beach experience. We will, accordingly, be vigorously promoting the vast array of leisure experiences our region has to offer new African tourists.
Our intention is to work together to ensure that KwaZulu-Natal may rapidly become a business and tourism destination of choice for the people of Zambia. Against this background, we undoubtedly have in place in KwaZulu-Natal the prerequisites for an operating environment and attendant support services which would ensure the global competitiveness of 21st century enterprises.
Ladies and gentlemen, the strides we have made in a relatively short period, in terms of developing and expanding air connectivity with our Southern African neighbours, such as Zambia, and various longer-haul destinations, inclusive of Mauritius, stands us in good stead for recognition as a major player on the world stage. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure Durban and KwaZulu-Natal's position as a business, trade and tourism gateway to South and Southern Africa is maintained.
I must stress, however, that we regard the official launch of this and the Harare air routes as just the beginning of an exciting and challenging future. We have developed pleasing momentum.
Now the real work begins... maintaining that momentum; working diligently to secure additional SADC-based destinations through continued cooperation between Dube TradePort Corporation and SA Express in negotiating air traffic, landing rights and airport slots in such countries as Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This will be to the ultimate benefit of all, inclusive of the business sector and the tourism trade here in Zambia. Since its commercial inception, SA Express has provided four direct flights a week between Lusaka and Durban aboard its most comfortable 50-seater jet aircraft.
Such frequency of flights must surely auger well for the nurturing of new and the enrichment of existing business-to-business relationships between the captains of industry, business sector decision-makers and trade representatives in the tourism sector, both here in Zambia and back home, in KwaZulu-Natal.
I am pleased to indicate that this official route launch function affords us - as visitors to your country an opportunity to showcase for the benefit of those unfamiliar with KwaZulu-Natal, our region's many worthy attributes - within both the business and tourism environments.
Equally, we should like to use this time to learn more about Zambia's business and tourism opportunities, so creating a win-win investment, business, trade and tourism scenario for the economic benefit of both Zambia and KwaZulu-Natal.
We stand now at that door of opportunity of which I spoke earlier. Let's cross that threshold together, find common areas of business interest, forge new business alliances and relationships, develop tourism prospects and partnerships and effectively use the direct air link between our countries to best business effect into the future.
In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, let me say that for many both in Zambia and KwaZulu-Natal this route provides new and, as yet, untapped opportunities for business growth and I would therefore sound an appeal.... we have put into place for the benefit of the private sectors of both countries an easily accessed, quick, direct air link... please make use of this resource to grow your business interests, use it to expand your tourism horizons.
In closing, I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has invested their time and effort to ensure the delivery of this new air link. I would also thank all of you from Zambia and KwaZulu-Natal who have given of your time to join us today to mark the official launch of the Lusaka-Durban air route. I am sure that it will pay handsome dividends in the long run.
Thank you.
