DUBE TRADEPORT: Throwing A Spotlight on KZN’s Manufacturing Potential

John Langalibalele Dube was an educator, clergyman, writer, newspaper editor, civil rights leader and the first President-General of the then South African Native National Congress, which later became the African National Congress. Widely acclaimed as a renaissance man who achieved remarkable feats in the face of the most daunting of challenges, with his own roots firmly entrenched in the area around what is now demarcated as the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone it is only fitting that a world-class facility offering so many opportunities to the nation carry his name.

The combination of Dube TradePort’s strategic location and world-class infrastructure stimulates the manufacture of value-added products, and provides the opportunity to benefit from a range of incentives and additional support measures to result in an ideal business environment for investors. “Benefits offered to business enterprises operating within Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone are geared towards the promotion of business growth, revenue generation, employment creation, the export of value-added commodities and, crucially, the attraction of both foreign and local investment,” its creators outline.

“Dube City is set to become the focal point of the emergent Durban Aerotropolis, and a natural meeting place for the business community, traders, and local and global travellers.”

VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTION

Behind Dube TradePort SEZ is the underlying intent to promote and enhance the competitiveness of KwaZulu-Natal’s manufacturing sector, while encouraging the beneficiation of available resources, the company adds. “This exceptional precinct delivers an environment conducive to increasing value-added production by existing local industry, whilst simultaneously creating a sound platform for the creation of new industry.”

A five-pronged attack consists firstly of Dube TradeZone, boasting fully-serviced industrial real estate for the likes of manufacturing, assembling, electronics, warehousing, distribution and logistics, alongside the state-of-the-art Dube Cargo Terminal, purpose-built to be the most secure handling facility in Africa. Dube AgriZone is a second designated SEZ and provides world-class agricultural facilities and technical support for the propagation, growth, packing and distribution of a range of high-value perishables and horticultural products.

Dube iConnect is a cutting-edge information technology and telecommunications platform and a premier cloud computing service provider.

A premium office, retail, leisure, and hospitality precinct in the form of Dube City is located in a modern urban ‘Green’ hub immediately adjacent to King Shaka International Airport’s passenger terminal, and it is the proximity to this facility, which houses the longest sea-level runway, at 3.7km in South Africa, which offers Dube TradePort yet another key differentiator. “Further,” the company clarifies, “Dube TradePort Corporation is the lead implementing agent of Durban Aerotropolis, an airport city with Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone at its heart.”

The ground-breaking 50-year Durban Aerotropolis Master Plan, designed to create an all new and extensive urban environment around King Shaka International Airport, is centred around a purpose-built airport city which aims to enhance urban, regional, and national competitiveness to ultimately make KwaZulu-Natal more economically efficient, sustainable and attractive to investment.

“Durban Aerotropolis has the potential to both catalyse the social, spatial and economic transformation of KwaZulu-Natal,” enthused then-KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, “whilst simultaneously localising the undoubted benefits of global trends through the implementation of a robust, though flexible long-term development framework.

“It is poised to take advantage of rapidly increasing global connectivity, efficient Dube TradePort logistics, Durban’s seaport, the Special Economic Zone status of the precinct surrounding the airport and positions KwaZulu-Natal as a highly strategic investment and business destination in South Africa.”

HUGE IMPACT

A level of innovation and forward-thinking befitting a development of this grandeur has long been in evidence at Dube TradePort. The award to KwaZulu-Natal-based Teqal, a specialist producer of biodegradable injection moulded rigid plastic packaging for cosmetics and industrial products, of a R50 million financing facility by the IDC to expand its factory at the Dube TradePort SEZ followed its developing Africa’s very first biodegradable cosmetics jar and a full wraparound in-mould labelled jar.

“The only way to change the impact of plastic on the environment is at product level, and a biodegradable solution will have a major impact on the environment,” commented Teqal Sales & Marketing Director Sean Kirkham, whose product is not only completely biodegradable, but 30% lighter than its closest competitor and uses 60% less energy to manufacture.

Networking giant Cisco SA has in turn opened a R10 million state-of-the-art incubation hub at Dube TradePort, only the second facility of its kind in South Africa seeking to develop SMMEs and speed up their entry into the digital marketplace.

The hub is a smart building with cutting-edge Cisco technology that offers complete business facilities including workspaces with high-speed broadband connectivity, video conferencing and collaboration platforms, as well as boardroom and training facilities. In addition, SMMEs will be able to connect with global Cisco experts, who can support them develop business ideas and concepts in a digital world.

“We foresee the Cisco Edge Incubation Center having a huge impact on developing local business and entrepreneurs throughout the province of KwaZulu-Natal, enabling them to build their capacity to compete on a global stage,” opined Dube TadePort CEO, Hamish Erskine.

“The facility will also be one of the cornerstones of the knowledge-intensive firms that we look forward to bringing into the Dube City precinct over the next 10 years, as we develop the core of what will become a smart city around the King Shaka International Airport.”