‘Gauteng mindset a tough nut to crack’

The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) has once again brought its strong marketing message to Gauteng which has proved to be one of the toughest nuts to crack. Speaking at a networking event in Johannesburg last week, WBCG CEO Johny Smith said while they had achieved some major successes in recent years, Gauteng remained their biggest challenge. “Eight years ago we could hardly get an appointment with any businessman in Gauteng to even discuss the corridor, never mind promoting it. We have come a long way since then, but Gauteng is still a challenge.” He said many businesses in Gauteng were still wary about using the Port of Walvis Bay and the Trans Kalahari Corridor despite its offer of a two-day service from port to market. “We see the Gauteng market as an opportunity for time-critical cargo,” he said. “To use Walvis Bay makes sense to businesses in Gauteng especially if time is an issue. We are focused on convincing the Gauteng market that this route makes sense not just from a time point of view, but also in terms of cost.” He said Gauteng remained a key area the WBCG wanted to grow in the coming months and they were actively creating awareness of the Port of Walvis Bay and the corridor in Gauteng. “The issue of mindsets is still there, but we hope that this will change as we point out the value of using this alternative port and route. This is not competition to Durban, but a complementary service.” Smith said he believed there was a definite benefit in using Walvis Bay in terms of cost, as it was a cheaper option that would ultimately benefit consumers. “The Port of Walvis Bay has had a major facelift. There are also more direct calls by shipping lines, no port delays, good safety and security and better facilities.” Smith said he hoped more businesses in Gauteng would contemplate using the port and the corridor to see these and other benefits for themselves. “We continue to focus on developing more exports and imports through Walvis Bay for the SADC region.”