Walvis dry port will open new opportunities for Botswana

The Port of Walvis Bay is
making a name for itself in
Botswana where the country
is set to open a dry port after being
awarded land recently.With a
memorandum of understanding
signed in 2008 for the 50-year lease
of the land in Namibia, the official
announcement of who the operators
will be is expected to be made
before the end of the year.
In the meantime freight
forwarders and transporters in
Botswana have welcomed the
move saying the port is proving to
be efficient, reliable and fast.
“We are definitely seeing an
increase in people using the port,”
said Mark Thompson, managing
director of UTi Botswana. “It is
becoming a preferred port and
offers Botswana the opportunity to
establish itself as the gateway into
Africa via Walvis Bay.”
With the Port of Durban battling
congestion and cargo having to
rely on expensive road freight,
the Walvis Bay port is a welcome
alternative, according to Oduetse
‘Od’ Makgane, chairman of the
Botswana Freight Forwarders’
Association.
“It is extremely efficient and has
less congestion with no berthing
issues. It makes sense to use it and
it is starting to be favoured.”
Modiri Ntuane, sales and
marketing manager of Gaborone
Container Terminal, who recently
opened a second branch in Phelape,
said there was much excitement
around the dry port for Botswana,
but also about Walvis Bay’s port in
general.
“It is on the right track and we
can see great things in the making.
We believe this is going to lead to
much opportunity for business in
Botswana.”