The opening last week of a R99.2-million cold storage facility in the Dube TradePort’s special economic zone outside Durban has already garnered positive industry support with six firms already signed up.
The 4500sqm facility, established with investment from private shareholders and the KZN Growth Fund as part of the Department of Trade and Investment’s Black Industrialist Programme, has capacity to handle 8 600 mobile pallet positions, which can store up to 12000 tonnes of perishable products.
It will initially cater for meat importers servicing local retailers as well as exporters of dairy, fruit concentrate and citrus to markets in the European Union and the Far East.
Cape Fruit, Trans Trade International and Beefmasters are among the new clients. iDube Cold Storage director Phumzile Phike said the vision was to expand the technology to the rest of continent.
“We have been approached by a number of countries which have expressed interest to roll out a similar facility in their countries. I invite financiers to be our partners as we seek to grow beyond our borders,” Phike said.
CAPTION
The new 4500sqm cold storage facility
