Protocol
In the life of every nation there is one event or development that defines the nation and changes the course of its history. In modern history nations and communities have come to be defined by the development and structures that live long after those who pioneered them have passed on. These structures and developments become part of the identity of that nation.
When you think of a country like France, the Eiffel tower comes to mind. When you think of Malaysia the twin towers come to mind and when you think of New York the Statue of Liberty comes to mind.
For KwaZulu-Natal, the construction of the Dube Trade Port, which incorporates the King Shaka International Airport, is one development which has changed not only the history of this province, but also the trajectory of our economic development.
It, therefore, gives us pleasure as the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, to stand before this august house and present the Dube Trade Port Corporation Bill.
We stand today before this house filled with pride for we are witnessing the fulfilment of a vision that started more and twenty years ago and is being brought to life right before our eyes.
Like any other venture of this magnitude, it is inescapable that there were many who thought that this was just a pipe dream which will never be realised in our life time.
However, we feel a sense of elation that working with this august house which has stood steadfast behind this vision, we will leave our small imprint in the annals of history by playing our small role in the development of this project.
We therefore believe that all of us in the provincial legislature have to take a bow and give ourselves a pat in the back for the contribution we have made and the role we played in the construction of what is the biggest infrastructure development in the history of this province.
As all of us know the Dube Trade Port, incorporating the King Shaka International Airport, comprises of a number of other facilities such the trade port, cyber port, the trade zone and the Dube city. While the airport is now operational however, the reality is that there is still a lot that still needs to be done for the project to be taken to its logical conclusion
In this regard the Dube Trade Port Corporation Bill, once promulgated into law, will ensure that that the Dube Trade Port is able to fulfil its role of being a catalyst for growth in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
The Dube Trade Port, since its inception, has been operating as a company. This meant that it could not be able to fulfil other responsibilities it had been tasked with in keeping with the prevailing legal prescripts, in particular the Public Finance Management Act. The Dube Trade Port Corporation Bill will therefore pave a way for the Dube Trade Port to be a fully fledged public entity.
In this regard, the objectives of the Dube Trade Port Corporation include:
- to develop the Dube Trade Port
- to undertake or invest in projects associated with the Dube Trade Port
- to facilitate economic growth in the province through the Dube Trade Port
- to attract long term investment to the province
- to facilitate export and import through the Dube Trade Port
The promulgation of this proposed legislation will then ensure that the Dube Trade Port, working in tandem with its board, is to give effect to the master plan for the economic growth of the Dube Trade Port region and the province.
It will also ensure that the Dube Trade Port is able to identify, develop, market and promote investment opportunities in the Dube Trade Port. It will also ensure that the Dube Trade Port is able to develop an investment plan for the Dube Trade Port.
This proposed legislation is therefore a catalyst for the Dube Trade Port to realise its full potential. The fact that the Dube Trade Port operates as a company means that it cannot fulfil other strategic roles for which it was established.
We have all observed the positive impact that hosting the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup has had on our province. In particular, the nations of the world now know more about our province and its offerings than they did before the world cup.
This exposure becomes useless if we cannot harness its potential for the benefit of our province, our country and our continent. One of our long-term goals as the provincial government is to position ourselves as the undisputed logistics hub of the continent, a gateway to the rest of the world.
We already boast the biggest and deepest ports in the continent which give us an advantage particularly in handling bulk cargo. The missing link was having a multi-dimensional port which could, among other things, handle time sensitive goods.
The Dube Trade Port is the link that has been missing. However, the Dube Trade Port as a company is hamstrung and cannot perform to its required potential but as a public entity it can breathe life to our aspirations as a province.
These are indeed both exciting and challenging times for us as the people of KwaZulu-Natal. They are exciting because all the pieces of the puzzle of our growth and development are falling into place.
The challenge is to ensure that, as the current generation, we are able to, using the prevailing opportunities, build a solid foundation for future generations. The Dube Trade Port Corporation is the future and the future looks bright for KwaZulu-Natal. We need to grab it with both hands.
I thank you.
Source: Department of Economic Development and Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
