DURBAN AEROTROPOLIS MASTERPLAN EXPECTED TO ATTRACT R1TN IN INVESTMENT

A masterplan for a Durban aerotropolis that is
expected to attract about R1-trillion in public and private sector investment
and create 750 000 jobs over a 50-year period has been unveiled.

Speaking ahead of the launch of a Visitors Centre
and the unveiling of an extensive model of the proposed aerotropolis,
KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the
purpose-built airport city, which was anchored by the King Shaka International
airport, would enhance urban, regional and national competitiveness and make
the province more economically efficient, sustainable and attractive to
investment.

The plan extends across a distance of one hour’s
travel time from the airport in all directions and includes the surrounding
Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (SEZ). It covers 32 000 ha of land,
which translates into 42-million square metres of developable property.

Dube TradePort Corporation chairperson
Professor Zanele Bridgette Gaza described
the aerotropolis as a ground-breaking concept for KwaZulu-Natal, as well as for
South Africa.

She said it would create an environment capable of
capitalising on steadily increasing international air connectivity,
efficiencies related to the Dube TradePort manufacturing and logistics hub, the
adjacent and strategically important Durban harbour, a growing SEZ and a
greenfield space ripe for well-planned and carefully orchestrated development.

The fact that this was one of very few initiatives
worldwide “utilising a greenfield site, consciously tailored to become a
platform for the support of air logistics” set it apart from other
aerotropolis developments both locally and abroad.

“The development of wide-ranging social
infrastructure will bring with it the advent of small business promotion and
growth in small-scale agricultural activities, new entrepreneurial prospects
and initiatives to address affordable housing backlogs, paving the way for
integrated urban communities living in dignified settlements and enabling
residents to be co-located with job opportunities in a new live-work-play
model,” she said.

Gaza said the evolution of the Durban Aerotropolis
would follow that of the already successful Dube TradePort SEZ, which already
formed the fully-integrated core necessary for the continued development of an
airport city.

Dube TradePort comprises the business and
hospitality precinct known as Dube City; the industrial zone, known as the Dube
TradeZone; the Dube AgriZone; and the Dube Cargo Terminal.

She pointed out that, in just nine years, the Dube
TradePort Corporation’s record of business successes had resulted in private
sector business investment worth an estimated R3.2-billion. More than 21 000
new employment opportunities have been facilitated.

“Dube TradePort Corporation is also responsible for paving the way for the introduction of small-scale and emergent local enterprises. Almost 60% of the current investment pipeline involves businesses which qualify for the Black Industrialist Programme, a fast-track initiative introduced by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to empower eligible black-owned companies active in key economic sectors through access to both financial and nonfinancial support,” she added. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/durban-aerotropolis-masterplan-expected-to-attract-r1tn-in-investment-2019-09-16