'Bulk of NPA investment
will be in Durban'
COEGA WILL never be a white elephant, and will play a valuable role in the development of the South African economy, says National Ports Authority chief executive Siyabonga Gama.
Replying to a question from the floor at a recent JCCI breakfast gathering, in which former JCCI president Pat Corbin asked whether it would have been more advisable to have spent the money on developing Durban harbour rather than on developing Coega, he said:
"Coega will complement Durban as the only deep water port in the middle of our coastline. It will attract new industries to the area which will provide a vast volume of cargo for export. It is aimed at bulk cargoes and as industry moves into the area there will be plenty available.
"Don't forget that most of the money we have budgeted for the upcoming few years will be spent on Durban. For quite some time it will remain the premier port in South Africa and we will make sure that the kind of investment we intend to take place there will take place.
"Durban is our premier general cargo port, and is the focus of our thrust in infrastructural development at the moment."
