Durban business confidence 'ambivalent'

Business confidence in Durban has been “ambivalent” for some time, according to Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Andrew Layman. “Times are quite hard from a business point of view. Money is tight,” Layman said. He added that government exercises in frugality had limited spend including curtailment of functions and the appointment of consultants. Layman said there was also some hiatus regarding several major developments in the city. “Logistics and port-related matters are very important for Durban’s growth. There are some infrastructural bottlenecks such as the Umgeni interchange but also some hiatus in respect of the digout port and the back of port plan, the Dube Trade Port and the Point development,” Layman said.