4 December 2001
Director of Ceremonies,
The National Minister of Transport,
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is indeed my pleasure to share this evening with you.
Tonight, we celebrate the completion of a job well done by the management and staff of the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) in upgrading the Durban International Airport Passenger Terminal.
It is an important event because the air transport industry plays a major role in the world conomic activity, and drives the processes of globalisation.
Over 40 % of the world's manufactured exports are transported by air. In every region of the world, countries large and small depend on the aviation industry to stimulate their economic growth and their financial strength.
Air transportation reduces the cost of trade and opens up new market opportunities through moving products, people and services over long distances. The availability of air transport has created entirely new industries, such as the export of fresh tropical fruit from Latin America and the Caribbean to Europe and the United States.
It is also a fundamental requirement in creating a growing tourism sector.
A good example of this is in Asia where fairly remote countries such as Thailand and Vietnam have benefited from significant growth in tourist derived income.
In addition, economic efficiency is increased by the ability of airlines to deliver stock, equipment and personnel anywhere in the world within 24 hours. "Just in Time" manufacturing practices would be unthinkable without air transport, particularly for companies which incorporate foreign sourced components and materials for their products.
For these and many other reasons, as Government we are very much aware of the value of the country's air transportation industry to our economy, and we will continue to give it all the support it deserves.
Ladies and gentlemen, as you are aware, government has undertaken bold initiatives to influence the global agenda in favour of the developing world. Major trade agreements have been concluded in both Europe and the United States. Further initiatives are underway with other continents paving the way for trade and business activities.
New opportunities will also no doubt be forthcoming as a result of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which represents a fundamental and decisive intervention in the global arena. NEPAD presents a paradigm shift and seeks partnerships between Africa and the developed North, based on business opportunities and not on aid alone.
The continent has a new generation of leaders who have undertaken to move it out of conflict in certain regions and out of its development stagnation to make Africa a key player in the global economy.
This new generation of leaders has taken resolutions to act against military dictatorship, promote democracy, good governance, human rights and sustainable development.
This bold undertaking requires the support of business in the continent and throughout the world. We are therefore encouraged by the support already committed and given to NEPAD by the world.
I would like to stress that the private sector in the African continent should not just support this initiative, but must co-own it and be co-drivers of the process, together with political leaders. In this context, the South African private sector is also expected to play a leading role within the continent.
Given this background, we need to ensure that our business sector and country as a whole are ready for new opportunities. Our central strategic focus therefore, as government, is to unlock the infrastructural requirements necessary to create the enabling environment for our economy to grow and for local business to maximise exports to global markets.
In addition to the challenges facing the country and the continent, the province has its own set of challenges that are pertinent to the meaningful role it can play in this macro view of global events.
KwaZulu-Natal has seen an expansion in economic activities and an increase in traffic to and from the province. The prioritisation of tourism has also put tremendous strain on the existing capacity in the province. As we all know, Durban has become the international conference destination of choice around the world.
Over and above the necessary expansion of the infrastructure, to be able to handle the volume of economic activities and movement of people and goods, services had to be upgraded. This upgrading has already started with the existing airport to increase efficiency, hence the celebration tonight.
Ladies and gentlemen, the development of new airports is in fact a general trend that is in keeping with the economic developments in any country.
For example, in the early 50s the airport in Greyville had to be relocated to its current location, as a result of expansionary pressure.
It is in this context that Government looks at the King Shaka International Airport development as an important initiative that will assist with the better provision of service, and to become a catalyst for further economic growth and tourism in the province, as mentioned in the President's State of the Nation address in February this year. The airport will feed in to the already existing transportation package, which includes two flourishing ports in Richards Bay and Durban.
The challenge for us as a government, is to develop new logistics platforms to distribute goods and services throughout the world and increase overall economic efficiency. Within this context, the air transport industry including airports has vital roles to play to ensure that our country becomes a central part of the global supply chain.
Once again, let me congratulate the management and staff of ACSA for seeing this project through to completion. We can all see the wonderful results.
I must also add that that I am particularly pleased to be sharing this moment with you, and to be in this province which has shown immense political maturity in being able to solve political problems and getting down to the business of governing and serving the people.
Let us use tonight's celebration to commit ourselves to working even harder to achieve greater number of tourist arrivals to this region, and maximise the benefit of the upgrade of the passenger terminal.
I wish each and every one of you the season's best wishes and hope you return in the New Year with more vigour and energy to build a better life for all.
I thank you.