High-tech industry offers opportunity

The Western Cape is increasingly offering more opportunity to businesses specialising in high-tech industries, according to Neil Harris, managing director of Texcon Shipping. “The establishment of the R9 billion Saldanha Steel Project and growth in the fields of information technology, telecommunications, medical and research equipment and other high-tech processes are all broadening the industrial core of the province, making it necessary for any business worth its salt to investigate business opportunities,” he told FTW. The company has just launched a new division called Warehouseit. This complements its lateral integration, says Harris, and through sister company Courierit, enables it to offer a genuine one-stop logistics shop for customers. According to Harris, the Western Cape is an important area of focus. “In line with worldwide trends, South Africa's export-oriented industries tend to shift towards port cities and coastal industrial belts – the drop in import duties and the establishment of Saldanha Steel as a basis for Western Cape heavy industry adds momentum to this shift,” says Harris. And he believes the Western Cape has in recent years become increasingly important not only due to the port, but also the expansion of its manufacturing capacity. “In the past the strength of Cape manufacturing largely depended on the performance of the food processing sector as well as clothing and textile industries. Several other segments have made relatively small, yet significant contributions to the sector, like the petrochemical and plastics industry, furniture, printing and publishing,” he said.