KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has called for stronger government-private sector collaboration to address bottlenecks in the province’s freight and logistics network.
Speaking at the 'UnBlocked: Focus on Freight' engagement held recently at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, Ntuli emphasised the importance of the freight and logistics sector to the province’s economy and the need to ensure infrastructure and systems that support trade operate efficiently.
The engagement brought together representatives from government, the freight and logistics industry, ports and business to discuss challenges affecting the movement of goods through KwaZulu-Natal, and identify practical interventions to improve the province’s logistics network.
Discussions focused particularly on congestion at the Port of Durban, freight movement, supply chain efficiency and the need for stronger cooperation between government and the private sector.
Ntuli said addressing these challenges is critical, given KwaZulu-Natal’s strategic position in South Africa’s logistics network, with the Port of Durban and major road freight corridors providing important links between businesses, domestic markets and international trade.
“Efficient freight movement remains critical not only to logistics operators, but also to manufacturers, exporters, retailers and other businesses that depend on reliable supply chains.
"Addressing congestion and improving the movement of goods, therefore, has broader implications for investment, economic competitiveness, job creation and the cost of doing business in KwaZulu-Natal,” the Premier said.
The engagement provided freight operators and other industry stakeholders with an opportunity to raise challenges experienced across the supply chain, directly with government representatives.
Discussions focused on practical and sustainable measures to reduce congestion, improve the movement of goods, and strengthen the reliability and efficiency of logistics operations in the province.
Ntuli stressed that solutions to the challenges facing the freight sector will require sustained collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The engagement also reinforced the importance of ensuring that discussions between government and industry translate into practical interventions capable of improving the performance and reliability of the province’s logistics system.
The Premier said engagements, such as UnBlocked, are important in ensuring that discussions between government and industry translate into practical interventions that remove constraints to economic activity and strengthen KwaZulu-Natal’s position as a major trade and logistics hub. – SAnews.gov.za
