COMPARING MAPUTO to Richards Bay is like comparing a Quickspar shop to a hypermarket in the view of port manager Glen Martin. Although, he said, the Mozambican port had a definite role to play, the growth of Richards Bay would not be affected by any recent developments to the north. The biggest threat is that we think it is a threat, he told clients. According to Martin, Richards Bay had the deep water facilities and other attributes that no other port could offer. Each harbour has its own role to play, he said, adding that he saw Richards Bay continuing to develop as a major industrial port.
Portnet and Spoornet are working closely together to ensure that we remain competitive, he promised.
He added that the development of a major corridor between Durban, Richards Bay and Maputo would also help ensure that Richards Bay remained firmly as the key industrial node of the region.
