Plans for exploiting coastline

Plans are afoot to develop the maritime industry in KwaZulu-Natal, which the provincial government views as a sleeping economic giant with huge potential.

The provincial government believes that the coast from Durban to Maputo is to KwaZulu-Natal what the Reef is to Gauteng.

It says the coast could be a gateway for trade on the continent and a powerful magnet for tourists.

At a three-day conference aboard the luxury cruise ship Sinfonia last week, economic development and tourism MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu said the maritime industry was critical to job creation.

The conference was convened to refine the province's maritime strategy, a draft of which was prepared by the KwaZulu-Natal Planning Commission, the eThekwini maritime cluster and the SA Maritime Authority.

Following the provincial cabinet lekgotla last month, the government resolved that the department of economic development and tourism develop a maritime strategy that would strengthen KwaZulu-Natal's economy.

"We should be able to identify the maritime niche for the province so that we can optimise our comparative advantage in the transport and logistics sector," said Mabuyakhulu.

The strategy calls for:

• Strengthening industries such as ship construction and repairs;
• Increasing bulk cargo capacity at Richard's Bay Port and container capacity at the Port of Durban;

• Developing skills within the maritime sector, raising awareness of career opportunities; and
• Using the maritime sector as a vehicle for African and regional growth and development.

Mabuyakhulu said that, with Durban hosting the Brics summit this week, now was a good time to market the maritime sector to members of the bloc.

Mabuyakhulu said that marine tourism and leisure were an integral part of the strategy.

He said neither Durban nor Richard's Bay had benefited to the extent that they could from the opportunities presented by international cruise liners calling .

"Challenges remain in drawing passengers into the province to maximise the economic spin-offs of foreign exchange being spent in these cities," he said.

Numerous opportunities existed to develop marine tourism and leisure products in rural and outlying communities positioned on inland waterways , he said.

Once the strategy is refined and has been adopted by the provincial cabinet, public-private partnerships will be sought.