During his 2013 Budget Speech address yesterday, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that R827 billion is to be spent on infrastructure development over the next three years. The announcement has been welcomed by leading global express and logistics provider DHL.

“The improved infrastructure spend will have a positive impact on the domestic economy and will also generate positive spill over effects such as increased trade with key African territories,” says Hennie Heymans, MD of DHL Express South Africa. “We welcome any investment in infrastructure that makes it easier for businesses like ours, and those of our customers, to operate effectively.”

Heymans has also welcomed government’s proposal to price carbon by way of a carbon tax (at the rate of R120 per tonne of CO₂– effective 1 January 2015). “The role of transport is changing globally and this will force the freight and logistics industry to become more sustainable, as well as investigate more environmentally friendly transport methods. We acknowledge that the transportation industry has an undeniable impact on the environment and, within our own operations and infrastructure, are committed to reducing our carbon footprint. The carbon tax proposal is just one more reason to improve our efficiencies and for businesses to push for more sustainable solutions.”