Pictured: The MSC Sola

The inaugural Eastern Cape Ports and Maritime Conference will be held in Port Elizabeth from May 29 to 31. Here Eastern Cape maritime industry leaders will set the tone for moves to tap into the province’s maritime resources, potential and heritage at the first ever Eastern Cape Ports and Maritime Conference next month in Port Elizabeth.

“The inaugural three day conference will play a strategic role in defining not only how maritime potential is harnessed, but offer insights into effectively managing the vast maritime resources of the province, its three ports and industry linked to these,” said MEC Mcebisi Jonas of the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT), which conceptualised and is co-sponsoring the event with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC).

“In most countries, the port and maritime industry makes a significant contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is comparable in size to a number of other important industries in the economy,” said Jonas. “Developing countries are especially dependent on their ports for both imports and exports, and South Africa is no exception. Moreover, the port industry has important linkages with other industries, particularly the transport chain, which has huge potential for growth in the province.

The conference will feature various thought leaders from across industry, led by a keynote address from Economic Development Minister, Ebrahim Patel.

Also providing papers and strategic insight are speakers from Transnet, the East London Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), Coega IDZ, the Nelson Mandela Bay Maritime Cluster, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and a line-up of national and international guest speakers.

They will cover a range of topics on port-rail integration, the strategic importance of the Eastern Cape’s two industrial development zones and investment and development plans for the regional ports.

The conference will unpack opportunities for investors and the broader industry in maritime and other export and logistic intense sectors with specific reference to the deep-water port of Ngqura and the Coega and East London IDZs.

One of the key envisaged outcomes is the forging of a mutually beneficial co-operative alliance to connect an African Network of Maritime Clusters with the European Network of Maritime Clusters and other maritime clusters around the world, say organisers.

The event is free for maritime industry attendees. “As an inaugural event, we want to create the environment for maximum participation,” added Jonas. “We therefore invite those in the maritime sector to attend and participate in robust engagements that can help us chart the way forward for plain sailing industry growth,” said Jonas. For more information visit: http://www.ecportsmaritimeconference.co.za.