Encouraging and growing exports is critical to supporting the sustainable and inclusive growth and development of Durban's economy, says Nigel Ward, president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Indust r y.“The manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors and allied businesses have the potential to benefit from increased exports.”
According to Ward, Durban has some real benefits compared to other cities thanks to its world-class infrastructure such as the airport, the port and the industrial zone. Maintaining, improving and adding to that infrastructure is essential.“We look forward to the completion of the automotive supplies park south of Durban, as this development will yield positive economic gains for the economy,” he says.
“The development of the C3 corridor is also important. The Chamber noted the delay in terms of the launch of the Go Durban project and believes that the city needs to have meaningful consultation with all the stakeholders to fast-track this project.”
Also of strategic importance is the M4 road network which serves as the economic artery of the East Coast, linking the eThekwini Municipality to its northern industrial and commercial centres, including Richards Bay.“Its closure as a result of storm damage and its collapse has already had a severe negative effect on the local and regional economy, increasing traffic congestion by putting additional pressure on the N2 and directly affecting the productivity of local and regional businesses,” says Ward.Despite the challenges faced in the current economic environment due to Covid-19, he believes there is still hope.
“There is a lot of hard work ahead for both the public and private sector to recover,” he says.