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The relationship between government and private companies should be nurtured as this will assist to re-industrialise the economy. This was said by the Deputy Director-General of Industrial Policy Development at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Mr Garth Strachan. He was speaking at the opening of Grindrod’s Gauteng Intermodal Terminal held in Johannesburg last night.

According to Strachan, government’s Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) aims, amongst others, to set out a roadmap for the re-industrialisation of South Africa. He said at the heart of this plan was the principle of a close working, collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship between government and business.

“This is a critical principle if as a country we are to overcome both the constraints that inhibit industrial development and open the significant opportunities that exist. One of the constraints is the inefficiency of the country’s road, rail, port freight and logistics,” said Strachan.

He added that growing the economy across agriculture, mining and manufacturing sectors depended on a reliable, efficient and competitive rail, road freight and logistics system which is what is provided by Grindrod. He said Grindrod’s vision was common with that of government to grow exports, increase trade and work towards industrial integration.

The CEO of Grindrod Gauteng Intermodal Terminal, Mr Kees Van Welie said the intermodal terminal was intended to be a one-stop shop for their clients. Its goals were to simplify supply chains, cut costs and grow their business. According to him, the 130 000 m² terminal is a hub that connects markets from as far as Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and closer to home Maputo, Richards Bay and Durban.

“This facility provides employment for over 100 people. It will handle one million tons of containerised cargo and in excess of 100000 containers per annum,” said Van Welie.

The Gauteng Provincial Government also welcomed the investment with the strategic economic advisor to the MEC for Economic Development, Ms Pelisa Nkomo saying the terminal was a response to their vision of transforming the economy and facilitating the flow of foreign direct investment into the country and Gauteng in particular.

Caption: Mr Kees Van Wilie (Grindrod), Ms Pelisa Nkomo (Gauteng Economic Development), Mr Andrew Sturrock (Grindrod) and Garth Strachan (the dti) cutting the ribbon at opening of Gauteng Intermodal terminal in Johannesburg

Issued by The Department of Trade and Indusrty