Investment into the Dube TradePort Corporation, located at King Shaka International Airport, is ongoing, with TradeZone 2 being at a very advanced stage.According to Hamish Erskine, CEO of Dube TradePort, all 23 sites have been fully serviced. “The bulk infrastructure installations such as roads, water, sewer, stormwater, etc. have been completed, and the security – which includes perimeter fencing along with security guardhouses – has been established.”More importantly, says Erskine, two significant investors are set to start construction of new facilities in the development. “LM Diapers, a healthcare product manufacturer, and Synergy Blenders, an industrial chemicals manufacturer, are moving ahead with plans to construct. The details of these projects will be announced as they are getting closer to operationalisation.”The Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has continued to go from strength to strength since its inception. It offers globally integrated logistics and manufacturing infrastructure, together with support for a range of airport-related activities such as cargo operations, warehousing and agriculture.Regarding future plans, Erskine says the immediate focus remains on realising the full development of Dube TradeZone 2. In the medium term, work is continuing on establishing Dube City, a mixed-use development, and TradeZone 3, known as uShukela.“uShukela is a strategically located precinct in proximity to the N2 and N3. Here we will have slightly smaller platforms as informed by market requirements. So, we are looking at some interesting mixed-use opportunities with a strong focus on businesses looking to expand. These include manufacturers, pharmaceuticals and logistics,” he tells Freight News.According to Erskine, an ongoing development which is set to add value to the logistics sector is the Dube Cargo Terminal. It is in the process of getting Iata CEIV Pharma-certified, which will ensure greater efficiency for the pharmaceutical supply chain. Erskine says the SEZ has played a key role in the development of land. “It provides resilient and integrated infrastructure and services that enable ease of doing business for both investors and operators, from manufacturers to logistics providers. “The precinct is equipped with shared utilities that reduce the investor’s costs when doing business, allowing for the opportunity to be more competitive. Furthermore, the precinct gives the investor access to markets locally, regionally and internationally, as well as long-term stability, thanks to the government’s economic development department and other investment attractions. Public entities are key stakeholders.”Dube has become critical in attracting foreign direct investment, adds Erskine. “Once localised, the investment grows and begins to establish a local supply chain which then amplifies the impact of value that is created in the local economy from an input and manufacturing side. On the other hand, SEZs work to provide an ideal business operating environment to grow local businesses from small to medium-sized enterprises. This has also been the case at Dube.”
