Musina terminal to lift regional integration

THE launch of the Musina Intermodal Terminal (MIT) was a boost to regional economic integration and the Special Economic Zones Programme, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said.

He was speaking at the launch of the terminal project in Limpopo. The terminal, which meets the need of the containerised cargo market and the transportation of mineral ores such as coal, iron ore, chrome, copper and sulphur, was a stepping stone to bigger projects within and around the Musina-Makhado special economic zone (SEZ). Once fully implemented the zone is expected to create employment for more than 20 000 people.

“The SEZ will significantly increase industrial production in the region. This will include steel and related inputs for producing steel and stainless steel, as well as increasing mining development and production.

“The SEZ will also increase trade between South Africa and its neighbours,” said Davies.

He said the project was designed to improve trade, which was key to the regional integration agenda.

Davies also announced that the Southern African Development Community tariff agreement with the east corridor would be finalised next month.

Chairperson of the terminal project, Morley Nkosi, said it would accelerate economic growth and development in the region, driving increased foreign and domestic direct investment, increased valueadded exports, the creation of jobs, and the building of industrial clusters and regional industrial hubs.

Nkosi said the intermodal movement of cargo from road to rail, and vice versa, would result in reduced carbon emissions, logistics costs and road congestion, as about 62 000 vehicle trips a year are removed from the region’s roads. – African News Agency