Inadequate infrastructure stunts growth outlook

THE ECONOMIC climate in Gauteng could be better, but it’s not too bad if you take current global economic challenges such as the food crisis, soaring fuel prices and the like into consideration. That’s the view of Dilrukshan Gunaratne, general manager of Expolanka, who would like to see major improvements in traffic congestion and delays at customs, particularly at OR Tambo International Airport. He believes the infrastructure in Gauteng has not improved over the past 12 months and that road and rail networks need to be upgraded urgently if the government is serious about economic development. Gunaratne considers mineral exports to be the biggest opportunity for growth in Gauteng, but that would only be economically viable if the infrastructure was able to support the volumes. Expolanka’s main focus is exports, moving textiles, spare parts, toys, power tools, electrical items and mobile phones from Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana to the USA or from China, India, Bangladesh, Taiwan and Hong Kong to Johannesburg.