Programme Director
First Lady of the province, Dr May Mashego
eThekwini Metro Deputy Mayor Logie, Mr Naidoo
Founder of Q-Free Africa, Mrs Ambigay Hemetsberger
Friends and investors from Norway
Durban University of Technology Director of Cooperative Education, Mr Shakeel Ori
Distinguished guests
Choosing the Soccer World Cup to launch your Sub Saharan branch of Q-Free Africa makes absolutely sense. And choosing Durban the warmest city in the country as your head office in Africa is even wiser. People cannot stop talking about our wonderful people and their great experience in our province. A more dedicated supporter of our province than our Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, is hard to find and I bring along warm greetings from Dr Mkhize, who could not be here today due to other urgent commitments.
We subscribe to partnerships as nobody knows it all or has it all. In this regard Norway and South Africa have created valuable relationships in the South African Energy Sector Policy Research and Capacity Development Programme that came to an end earlier this year. Like His Majesty, King Harald V said during his state visit in November last year, "Energy is a new and important area of common engagement interest for South Africa and Norway… not only politically, but for business."
We are excited about further agreements signed during that visit, as well as the opportunities it presented for business representatives of both countries to increase trade and investment between the two countries.
During the State Visit from, several business seminars were held both in Cape Town and in Johannesburg. From Norway, more than 100 business representatives from over 70 companies made their way to South Africa to meet with around 500 South African counterparts. A focal point during the visit was transport infrastructure in roads and electronic tolling, as well as air traffic management systems. The decision of Q-Free ASA Norway, a leading supplier of traffic management/road user charging solutions to use KwaZulu-Natal as the gateway to Africa can only be applauded. South Africa needs Hi Tech companies and from what I understand, the programming of the electronic devices that are manufactured in Norway, will be done in KwaZulu-Natal.
We are aware of the spill-over effects of the multi-national companies that invest in South Africa. Given our developmental state we find the job opportunities that these companies create, as well as the training of local labour to local firms invaluable.
South Africa is now a global player and cross fertilisation is very important. We want to accelerate growth, not only in South Africa but in the entire Africa. The sleeping giant has now woken up. By placing your head office here you are contributing to the process.
While we have come a long way we also acknowledge that we still have a lot to do. Poverty remains our biggest enemy and unless we grow our economy and create more jobs we will not beat poverty.
The connection between poverty and a lack of education or skills is self-evident. Not only do employers want skilled workers, they also want employees with cutting edge technology education.
It makes infinite sense that education and skills development is a key priority in the South African government’s war against poverty. Therefore Q-FREE Africa’s commitment in building the capacity of our young local information technology (IT) engineers from previously disadvantaged societies is most welcome. The partnership with the Durban University of Technology to assist the institution in training will go a long way to establish High Tech skills in our country.
KwaZulu-Natal in particular is an investor’s dream. In the mining sector there is much room for growth, especially in the export market. KwaZulu-Natal currently contributes four percent of the world aluminium market.
Coal mining is also a very important industry. In fact at Richards Bay Harbour in KwaZulu-Natal we have an export terminal built specifically for coal export; and that coal terminal is in the process of being expanded.
As the gateway to Africa, our Durban port is Africa’s busiest container port, while KwaZulu-Natal is the second fastest growing province in industrial and commercial terms, contributing about 17 percent to national Gross Domestic Products (GDP). We want to grow it. Watch out we are on the way to the top!
It has been said that the fact that we have been previously disadvantaged because we did not have the right airport facilities. Almost 50 000 tons of manufactured goods had to be trucked up to Johannesburg to be exported by air.
The perishable-goods sector of the economy will benefit directly from the Dube Trade Port. Produce will be transported at sea level instead of through Gauteng’s OR Tambo International Airport at an altitude of about 2 000 m, which will extend the life of fresh produce. The port includes a cargo terminal and a perishables centre with direct air-side access providing a cold storage, a courier and a paid facility for the rapid export and import of time-sensitive products.
The Trade Port and airport creates a tremendous opportunity to tourists and traders. And 2010 is a wonderful opportunity to showcase KwaZulu-Natal.
We are looking forward to see many more foreigners and tourists in our province. One can literally experience from snow to the sunny beaches in KwaZulu-Natal. The variety our Province offers is incredible.
We will go out of our way to accommodate investors in our province, if it is beneficial to both of us. Q-Free Africa, you have made the right decision. You know what is good! Welcome!
Background
KZN MEC for Finance, Ms Ina Cronjé, delivered the keynote address during the launch of the Sub-Saharan branch of Q-Free Africa based in Durban and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Q-Free Africa and Durban University of Technology (DUT).
The signing of the MoU signals the beginning of training of specialist engineers by DUT on this new technological innovation pioneered by Q-Free Africa.
