A new private-sector shipping forum has been launched in Durban, which aims to “act as a unified private-sector maritime voice and drive deal flow and attract maritime sector investment”.
Called the Durban Shipping Chamber, the new forum has been established by the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC and will be led by Durand Richard Naidoo, ceo of Linsen Nambi. The initiative is aligned with South Africa’s Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy, the Durban Chamber said in a statement.
“While the Durban Port Forum currently provides a platform for operational issue resolution, Durban lacks a private-sector-driven, commercially oriented structure that focuses on business development, investment attraction and maritime sector competitiveness,” said Palesa Phili, chief executive officer of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC, adding that this was a gap the chamber aimed to fill.
The new forum is expected to support SME participation in the maritime economy and create a private-sector voice across the broader shipping value chain.
“As organised business, we recognise that there has long been a structural gap within the maritime ecosystem, one that the Durban Shipping Chamber now fulfils. Therefore, the Durban Shipping Chamber complements the eThekwini Maritime Cluster and South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents by serving as a dedicated platform where commercial opportunities are advanced and industry growth is driven,” Phili said.
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